THESE TEAMS had tangled before in recent seasons; with the sides' LFA Youth Cup clash from October, 2008, really standing out. Then the Laois side had the chances and possession to progress but the visitors converted their two only chances to advance.

This observer noted at the time that - 'Portlaoise had more than enough possession and shooting chances to have marched on in this Cup but Wexford, showing more composure on the ball and a clinical edge up front, scrambled clear of the Laois side's challenge at the death'. How the tables turned last weekend, however, as the fates conspired to deny the Model county side despite their absolute domination of the possession and shooting stakes.

A heroic Portlaoise side lived on their nerves throughout and fired home the only clearcut chance they had early in the second-half. That proved enough as a wasteful Wexford outfit missed enough chances to win this tie three times over.

The visiting side started brightly and the hosts were forced into a series of rash challenges. With Danny Flaherty dominating in the air despite giving away inches and Mark Delaney mopping up effectively outside him, Portlaoise's defence looked solid early on despite those wobbles.

With the midfield so crowded Wexford, despite their lion's share of possession, had to wait patiently for their openings. Wexford's Jimmy Keohane was first in line but he swung his free just over Stuart Dargan's crossbar.

The hosts were living on scraps and when they did threaten a breakthrough from Gary O'Sullivan's inswinging cross, Wexford defended it well. The home side's cause was further hampered when front-man Martin Staunton had to retire injured midway through the half.

His absence meant that fellow striker Jason Murphy had to hold up the ball for an age for any support to get near him. Time and time again no Portlaoise player was within 30 yards of Murphy when he seized upon the scraps of possession that came his way.

All this ensured that Wexford kept peppering the hosts' goals, but smart goalkeeping from Dargan plus a trio of inexplicable misses from Mullen kept Portlaoise in the tie.

Portlaoise's sole flowing move of the half saw Delaney link up well with Murphy up the left, but when O' Sullivan helped the ball on infield to Peters the final ball in was extremely poor.

Then Flaherty saw his well-directed free beat everyone at the back post as Portlaoise tried mightily to break Wexford's stranglehold on the game. Wexford rallied immediately and when poor Portlaoise defending allowed the lively Keohane through on goal it seemed the breakthrough was at hand.

Thankfully for the relieved hosts, Dargan pulled off a sprawling save to deny the visitors. Late on the Laois side hinted at an opening goal of their own, but first White's drive was diverted out for a corner and then substitute O'Brien headed narrowly wide right at the death.

This late flurry obviously encouraged the Portlaoise youngsters as the second-half began. Such hope should have been doused by cold reality and an early Wexford goal.

Marvellous play up the left flank by Rob Vickers allowed him cross to the back post where Mullen missed the easiest of chances. This unexpected let-off was soon followed when Rowe's goalbound shot was half-blocked and then saved.

These misses left the door open for Portlaoise and the Laois youngsters made their opponents pay for such profligacy minutes later. Gary O'Sullivan picked out Murphy, wide on the left and level with the Wexford 18-yard line, with an exquisite pass. Murphy showed his determination and close-ball control to beat the two defenders flanking him before making for the Wexford endline.

As the Wexford 'keeper loomed large in his sights, the Portlaoise man cleverly squared the ball to the back post where the onrushing Stuart O'Sullivan smashed home his first-time shot into the top left-hand corner of the Wexford goal.

That shocking reverse, just ten minutes after the re-start, saw Wexford re-double their efforts in front of goal. With Vickers continuing to lead the Portlaoise defence a merry dance out on the left and the impressive Dempsey threatening in front of goal, it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors equalised.

Kehoe and Doran then fired in shots which fizzed narrowly wide as Portlaoise continued to live on their nerves. Rowe had a looping header that had Dargan scrambling. Then a thunderous Rowe volley from a corner brought a superb save out of Dargan. Try as Wexford did, a combination of poor finishing plus a proud defensive effort from Portlaoise ensured that they didn't get their deserved equaliser in the end.

While Portlaoise rode their luck at times they can be thankful for the efforts of Dargan in goals, Delaney and Flaherty, and Murphy up front.

They enjoyed a fair dollop of good fortune that their counterparts, a season previously, never did. For a naturally dejected Wexford side, their star turns were Rob Vickers out on the left and Robert Dempsey up front.

Had they packed their shooting boots there is no doubt that the 'yellow bellies' would have progresses into the next round.

- JOHN HAYES