NFL DIVISION THREE: Wexford 4-11 Waterford 2-6:BEN BROSNAN sparkled with two smashing goals as Wexford got off to the most impressive of starts with a fully-deserved 11-point victory at Wexford Park yesterday afternoon.

Despite finding it difficult to settle, Wexford, playing with a gale-force first-half wind, still led 1-9 to 0-2 at the interval. But it was in the five first-half additional minutes that they struck for 1-2, the goal from debutant full forward Kevin O’Grady after 38 minutes, while Waterford’s two first-half points came courtesy of Brian Phelan and a Patrick Hurney free.

Wexford dominated the second half into the wind. Waterford had only a Shane Briggs 43rd-minute point to show for their early pressure, but Wexford continued on their mission as Brosnan, having been picked out by Redmond Barry, shot low to the net to make it 2-9 to 0-3 lead after 47 minutes.

The visitors struck for their opening goal from Tommy Prendergast after 52 minutes and Hurney then added a second to cut the deficit to 2-11 to 2-3.

But Brosnan’s goal on 62 minutes killed off the Waterford challenge, while, four minutes from the end, Ciarán Lyng added a splendid fourth goal.

WEXFORD:A Masterson; N Murphy, G Molloy, J Wadding; B Malone (0-1), D Murphy, A Flynn; D Waters (0-1), R Quinlivan; L Óg McGovern, R Barry, G Sunderland; C Lyng (1-4, one free), K O'Grady (1-0), B Brosnan (2-5, two frees). Subs: A Doyle for Flynn (Inj. 21 mins); C Morris for Sunderland (46); S ONeill for McGovern (53); S McLoughlin for OGrady (63); C Carty for Brosnan (70).

WATERFORD:T Wall; K Connery, T O'Gorman, C Phelan; E Walsh, S Briggs (0-1), M O'Gorman; B Phelan (0-1), M Ahern; B Wall (0-1), K Power, W Hennessy; P Hurney (1-2, two frees), T Prendergast (1-1), S Fleming. Subs: J Veale for Fleming (46); M O'Gorman for Power (55 mins); M Ferncombe for Hennessy (60); C O'Keeffe for Ahern (67).

Referee:G McCormack (Dublin).