Laois will contest the Leinster decider against reigning champions Dublin on July 15, while Wexford's long wait for a Leinster semi-final win goes on - their last final appearance was back in 1956.

They only have themselves to blame after a topsy-turvy clash at sunny Croke Park. Having scooted into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead after a blistering first quarter-hour, Paul Bealin's men let the quality of their football and finishing slip.

Ciaran Lyng was on target four times during that early spell with Adrian Morrissey, Matty Forde and Redmond Barry also raising white flags. Laois, who started without the injured Brian 'Beano' McDonald, had Cathal Ryan and Padraig Clancy to thank for their opening scores.

Incredibly, Laois hit nine wides in the opening half and they trailed by 0-10 to 0-6 at the interval. Lyng also had a goal disallowed in the 16th-minute as Paddy Colfer was penalised for an over-carry.

But Liam Kearns' decision to switch former All-Star Tom Kelly from defence to attack paid dividends in the second half as Laois soon took control. Tierney, after a wayward period, began to find his range from frees and the all-important goal arrived on 47 minutes.

Kelly started the move and linked with Tierney before Paul Lawlor was released and he did well to plant the ball to the net, firing under the advancing John Cooper.

The goal levelled the tie at 1-7 to 0-10 and Wexford never really recovered. They lost centre-back David Murphy to a red card as his high shoulder challenge on Kelly earned him his second yellow, and Laois strode on to reach the Leinster final for the fourth time in five seasons.

In front of a headquarters crowd of 34,872, Wexford roared out of the traps much as they did against Louth in their quarter-final win. Crucially, they could not keep up the searing pace that they set.

The Models were 0-5 to 0-0 in front by the ninth-minute and were playing the better football. Lyng, who previously played soccer with Preston North End, angled over four of those points - three from play - with Matty Forde, for once, not his county's talisman of old.

Wexford, who introduced David Fogarty into the side for ankle injury victim Philip Wallace, continue to prosper before the break - although they did lose midfielder Eric Bradley through injury.

If the first half was all about Lyng's quality in front of goal, Ballyroan clubman Tierney took over the mantle for the second half as he added four points to his and Laois' tally and also had a hand in their goal.

Tierney dangled a ball in towards the Wexford square, Chris Conway palmed it down for Lawlor to fasten onto it and drill his shot past Cooper.

Just two minutes later, Murphy saw red and Wexford's chances were diminishing by the second. Colm Parkinson, who was drafted in for McDonald, exchanged points with Forde but four points on the bounce from the O'Moore men edged them decisively clear.

The supply of ball into the Wexford forwards dried up, although the losers' attackers can be happy with a wides tally of only four.

On a day when Lyng announced himself to a lot of GAA followers, the 20-year-old, who was making only his second championship start, tagged on two points in the closing minute to leave this observer in no doubt as to what a talent he could turn out to be.

There is also little doubt that Laois will have to improve to put it up to the Dubs in the provincial showpiece. They finished with a wides tally of 18 this afternoon and Kearns' side will certainly have to sharpen up their shooting if they are to claim their seventh Leinster title and first since 2003.

LAOIS: F Byron; C Ryan, T Kelly, J Higgins; P McMahon, D Rooney, B McCormack; P Clancy (capt) (0-1), B Quigley (0-1); R Munnelly, C Conway (0-1), MJ Tierney (0-7, 0-5f); D Brennan, P Lawlor (1-0), C Parkinson (0-2).

Subs used: P O'Leary (0-1) for Brennan (half-time), B McDonald for Conway (57 mins), R Stapleton for McMahon (69), D Murphy for Lawlor (70+2).

WEXFORD: J Cooper; N Murphy, B Malone, C Morris; A Morrissey (0-1), D Murphy, A Flynn; R Stafford, E Bradley; C Deely (capt), R Barry (0-1), D Fogarty; C Lyng (0-7, 0-3f), P Colfer, M Forde (0-4, 0-3f).

Subs used: J Mernagh for Bradley (20 mins), P Byrne for Mernagh (52), R Quinlivan for Stafford (58), A Doyle for Deely (68).

Referee: Martin Sludden (Tyrone)