TROUBLED Down hurlers were shown no mercy by high-flying Wexford, who soundly thrashed the northerners in a totally one-sided Division Two game at Wexford Park yesterday.
Little has gone right for Down, as they continue their plunge towards Division Three, but for Wexford it was a welcome two points, and an immediate bounce back following their heavy defeat by Limerick in their last outing.
Down, on the evidence of this insipid showing, will be hard pressed to avoid the drop, a poor record for a side which looked to have made such strides in recent seasons, but for Wexford the two points should guarantee Division One hurling next season.
Wexford dominated the game from the outset with Tom Dempsey opening their scoring with a fine point in the seventh minute. The glaring weakness of the Down team was very evident from the opening quarter, at the end of which Wexford led 0-4 to no score and with the home side's dominance continuing, they went in leading 0-11 to no score at the interval.
Down's opening score arrived one minute into the second half, a Dermot O'Prey point, but that was the height of their challenge, as Wexford regained their composure and continued to pick off scores at will. The sides exchanged goals through John MeCarthy and Gary Laffan in the closing seven minutes as the home side coasted to victory.
