NHL DIVISION TWO:Wexford 5-14 Offaly 0-17

WEXFORD DISMISSED Offaly’s feeble challenge in a totally one-sided Division Two game at Wexford Park yesterday afternoon.

Wexford are now level with Offaly on 10 points, while Antrim are in third spot, one point further adrift. The home side played with far greater urgency, particularly in the first half, when four goals, from David Redmond, Rory Jacob, Diarmuid Lyng and Stephen Banville, gave them the confidence boost they needed.

Offaly, playing into the wind, started brightly with the two opening points through Daniel Currams and Cathal Parlon, but thereafter their game fell apart after Wexford struck for the opening goal after seven minutes.

Offaly’s defence, particularly their full back line was completely overrun and gave goalkeeper Brian Mullins little cover as Wexford ran in two early tap-in goals after Mullins had produced tremendous saves.

Wexford’s Andrew Shore opened his team’s scoring with a fourth-minute point. Three minutes later came Diarmuid Lyng’s shot that was saved by Mullins but corner-forward Redmond was left with a simple tap in.

Offaly battled back for points from Shane Dooley (a free), and Derek Molloy, to tie the sides, 1-1 to 0-4, after nine minutes.

But the game was transformed from there to the interval as Wexford assumed total control.

Rory Jacob pounced for the second goal after 13 minutes, after Mullins had again superbly pushed away a Lyng effort. From there to the interval Wexford pressed on adding further goals through Lyng, who was set up by a superb Rory Jacob lob over the defence, and Stephen Banville, to lead by 10 points at the interval, 4-8 to 0-10.

With Stephen Nolan commanding at centre-back and Malachy Travers outstanding in the full back line, Wexford easily cut out the expected Offaly second-half threat.

The home team ended whatever hopes Offaly entertained of a second-half recovery when Redmond raced through for his second goal after 43 minutes, leaving his side with a 5-9 to 0-11 lead.

From there to the finish the sides exchanged a flurry of points, but Offaly never really threatened goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry with one direct shot on goal.

WEXFORD:D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D O'Connor, A O'Connell; M Jacob, S Nolan (0-1, free), D Stamp; C Farrell (0-1), C Kenny; D Lyng (1-4), A Shore (0-1), P Carley (0-3, one free); R Jacob (1-1), S Banville (1-2), D Redmond (2-0). Subs: R Kehoe for Stamp (inj. 28 mins); S Doyle (0-1) for Carley (55 mins); K Rossiter for O'Connor (59 mins); E Martin for Shore (63 mins); N Kirwan for Farrell (65 mins).

OFFALY:B Mullins; D Franks, G Oakley, S Wynne; K Brady (0-1), C Horan, P Cleary; R Hanniffy (0-1), J Rigney; C Parlon (0-2), J Bergin (0-2), D Molloy (0-1); B Carroll (0-2), S Dooley (0-7, six frees), D Currams (0-1). Subs: J Brady for Currams (43); M Verney for Wynne (47); C Hernon for Franks (inj. 65).

Referee:E Morris (Dublin).