WALSH SHIELD SEMI-FINALS: Offaly 2-18 Wexford 1-15:OFFALY had a comfortable victory over Wexford in this Walsh Shield match at Wexford Park yesterday. Offaly were proving far too strong during the opening exchanges with Seán Ryan pointing his side in front inside thirty seconds of the start.

Then a long lob from Derek Molloy deceived Wexford goalkeeper Mark Fanning and went in to the net. Jack Guiney and Tomás O’Leary scored Wexford’s opening points, but Joe Bergin sent over four to give his side a 1-5 to 0-2 lead.

The lead was 1-12 to 0-7 by half-time but the home side opened the second half showing more urgency. Jim Berry and Jack Guiney had points, before Rhys Clarke found the net to reduce the deficit to three, 1-12 to 1-9.

Bergin got his second goal to re-establish the different and points were exchanged until Offaly ran out convincing winners.

OFFALY:E Kelly; B Mulrooney, S Coughlan, B Watkins; B harding, C McDonald (0-1), D Horan; M Verney, C Mahon (0-1); C Egan, D Molloy (1-2), M Morkan (0-1); S Ryan (0-2), J Bergin (1-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65), D Mooney (0-1). Subs: J Regan for Harding, T Carroll (0-1) for Morkan, S Dooley (0-1, free) for Ryan, S Wynne for Mahon.

WEXFORD: M Fanning; B McCormack, B Travers, B Kenny; W Devereux, J Lacey, S Murphy; D O'Keeffe, C Farrell (0-1); M O'Hanlon (0-4), S Tomkins, J Berry (0-1); T O'Leary (0-2), R Clarke (1-0), J Guiney (0-5, two frees). Subs: D M Carroll for Farrell, G Moore (0-1) for Clarke; I Byrne (0-1) for Tomkins; S O'Gorman for Devereux; C Kehoe for Guiney.

Referee:S Cleere (Kilkenny).