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Wicklow's minor footballers, who had not won a single match in the Leinster league, stepped up their game for the championship as they beat a fancied Laois team by two points at Aughrim.
Laois's Paul Kingston opened for the visitors with a point inside 30 seconds, but Wicklow quickly dispelled any notion they were going to be easy pickings and dominated play throughout the first half.
Michael O'Connor fired to the net after 17 minutes, before midfielder Pat Phelan volleyed home a second and Wicklow led 2-1 to 0-3 at half-time.
Wicklow continued to set the pace and Daniel Dawson swung over two points to increase their lead.
Evan O'Carroll threw Laois a lifeline when he drilled to the net on 43 minutes, cutting the margin to 2-3 to 1-3. Laois piled on the pressure but Wicklow dug deep and held out for a win.
SCORERS -- Wicklow: P Phelan, M O'Connor 1-1 each, D Dawson 0-2, C French 0-1; Laois: E O'Carroll 1-1, P Kingston 0-2, J Moore, M Lyons, N Mullins 0-1 each.
WICKLOW -- R Fitzgerald; J Miley, R Marron, C O Dulachain; C Hatton, D Lohan, PJ Daly; P Phelan, T Donohoe; D Dawson, P Ellis, P Kelleher; M O'Connor, C French, K Kealy. Subs: A Howard for Kealy, K Geraghty for Donohoe, C Healy for Kelleher, A Nugent for O'Connor.
LAOIS -- A O'Reilly; M Cahill, C Dunne, R Fennell; C Hogan, M Scully, R Dowling; C McEvoy, J Nerney; J Moore, M Lyons, E O'Carroll; E Lowry, P Kingston, N Mullins. Subs: J. Bartley for Scully, N Murphy for Fennell, A Farrell for Moore, D Cullen for Lowry.
REF -- K Kelly (Carlow)
