Mark Rossiter netted a second-half double as Wexford romped past neighbours Carlow in Sunday's Leinster SFC opener at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
A month after hammering the Barrowsiders by 1-14 to 0-7 in the league, Wexford were more convincing in this rematch, as John Hegarty’s men cruised into a quarter-final against Louth, last year’s beaten provincial finalists.
Carlow, without a victory in the provincial championship since making the semi-finals in 2018, must wait for the start of the Tailteann Cup on the second weekend of May.
Carlow endured the double blow of losing the influence of captain Darragh Foley - their all-time record scorer - and midfielder Jordan Morrissey prematch, and rather peculiarly they opted to face the strong wind first after winning the coin toss.
The sides traded early frees – Colm Hulton’s ice-breaker for Carlow being matched by Seán Nolan – before wind assisted Wexford settled into a tenth minute 0-3 to 0-1 lead through midfielder Liam Coleman and Mark Rossiter (mark).
Conor Kinsella endured the misfortune of both uprights keeping out his effort at extending the lead after intercepting a back-pass.
Regardless, Wexford stretched ahead by 0-05 to 0-03 as Seán Nolan (mark) and Niall Hughes sandwiched a Carlow response from Conor Doyle (free), before Conor Kinsella forced the Carlow 'keeper into saving a tame low effort in the eighteenth minute.
But with Wexford seeking to deposit a tidy advantage with the wind favouring them, they summoned score merchant Ben Brosnan from the ‘bench on fifteen minutes in place of Kinsella.
Brosnan became their sixth scorer as Wexford dominated the second quarter to ease ahead by 0-12 to 0-03 at half-time, mainly through the placed-ball execution of Seán Nolan, who added four more frees.
And Nolan ballooned the margin to 1-13 to 0-04 on 41 minutes after a swift exchange involving Kevin O’Grady, Eoghan Nolan and centre-back Páraic Hughes saw the full-forward crash to the net.
While Nolan was denied a possible second goal – penalised for a square ball – substitute Jonathan Bealin made a quick impact when his powerful shot squirmed under the ‘keeper and to the net to swell the lead to 2-16 to 0-05 on 57 minutes.
Spirited Carlow pegged points through Colm Hulton (two) and Conor Crowley only for Mark Rossiter to erase that fight-back when arrowing to the net from a Kevin O’Grady assist in the 63rd minute (3-16 to 0-08).
And after Carlow sub Eric Molloy had pulled a goal chance wide, Rossiter provided the coup de grace for the home-side when burying a second personal goal four minutes into added-time after a neat delivery from captain Liam Coleman.
And Louth manager Ger Brennan was an eagle-eyed observer as his Wee County look to halt Wexford’s stunning five-match winning run, with an average winning margin of almost fourteen points.
Wexford: Rory Tubritt; Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Darragh Lyons; Glen Malone (0-1), Páraic Hughes, Dylan Furlong; Liam Coleman (captain, 0-2), Niall Hughes (0-1); Kevin O’Grady (0-2), Eoghan Nolan (0-1), Mark Rossiter (2-2, 0-1 mark); Seán Nolan (1-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 mark), Graeme Cullen, Conor Kinsella.
Subs: Ben Brosnan (0-3) for Kinsella (22), Cathal Walsh for Cullen (54), Jonathan Bealin (1-0) for E. Nolan (54), Liam O’Connor for Sheehan (59), Graham Staples for Lyons, inj. (68).
Carlow: Johnny Furey; Mark Furey, Paddy McDonnell, Mikey Bambrick; Aaron Amond (0-1), Josh Moore, John Murphy; Conor Doyle (0-1 free), Niall Hickey; Colin Byrne, Colm Hulton (0-4, 2 frees), Shane Clarke; Ross Dunphy (0-1), Jamie Clarke, Conor Crowley (0-1).
Subs: Dara Curran for Clarke (35+1), Cormac Lomax for Moore (50), Eric Molloy for Murphy (54), Kevin Murphy for Hickey (59), Bryan McMahon for McDonnell (68).
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).
