While lacking a certain degree of consistency, Tipperary asserted sufficient general control over Wexford to emerge the most comfortable of winners in the first of the All-Ireland minor hurling championship semi-finals at Croke Park yesterday.
On reflection, it won't bother Tipperary that their scoring machine stalled here and there. The only thing that does matter is that they pieced together a sound performance that enabled them to rid themselves of the disappointments of last year when going down heavily to Galway at the same stage, and then only to see Cork, whom they had beaten in the Munster final, go on to take the supreme award.
The listing of a suspension on their star forward, Willie Ryan, three days before the match may not have been in time to allow for Ryan's name to appear on the official programme; but from the throw-in his presence was huge.
With only 30 seconds on the clock, he raced on to a through ball to slot home a great goal.
The basis for Tipperary's win was smartly laid with a huge follow-up point from left wing back David Morrissey and a great goal from Trevor Ivors after being placed unselfishly by Conor O'Mahony.
Richard Flynn then began to impact on the scoreboard with the placed ball to the joy of all Wexford supporters in the crowd.
In all he hit nine points. Flynn was certainly playing a captain's role and in the Wexford goal the other half of the Flynn threat, Dermot was playing a blinder with brilliant stops from Ryan and Ivors (twice).
Wexford could never free themselves from the catch-up mould and were in trouble by half-time, trailing 3-7 to 0-8.
True Flynn was an impeccable free-taker; but the side lacked options up front and cried out for a few forwards in general play of the calibre of Tipperary's Pat Shortt, Conor O'Mahony, Willie Ryan or Trevor Ivors.
Tipperary's full forward Francis Devanney vacated the front division to prove highly effective in the middle of the field.
Wexford could not afford the chance missed by Garry O'Grady and even a chance missed by Flynn himself when enjoying good spells of second-half possession.
By far the best worked goal came near half-time when Evan Sweeney took the Wexford cover on single-handedly before squaring the ball back to Ryan who drove home for Tipperary's third goal.
Tipperary's fourth goal from Shortt was the result a poor clearnace attempt in the last quarter.
Flynn went closest to scoring a Wexford goal, but his close-in free attempt in the second half was tipped over.
TIPPERARY: P McCormack; M Treacy, D Bourke, M Bergin; J Boland, D Kennedy, D Morrissey (0-1); W Cully (0-3), D Corcoran; P Shortt (1-3), C O'Mahony, T Scroope; W Ryan (2-5, two frees), F Devanney, T Ivors (1-0). Subs: E Sweeney (0-1) for Corcoran (20 mins); P Ryan for O'Mahony (54); Paudie Ryan for Shortt (56); T Fitzgerald for Scroope (40).
WEXFORD: D Flynn; A Kavanagh, A Murphy, J Roche; P Ryan, S Nolan, C Kenny; L Kinsella, R Frayne (0-1); D Foran (0-1), B Jacob, J Codd (0-1); G O'Grady (0-1), P White, R Flynn (0-9 f). Subs: D O'Leary for Roche (24 mins); M Kelly for Kinsella (half-time); B Mulligan for Murphy (36); P Doran for Jacob (45); M Doyle for White (52).
Referee: P Dunphy (Kilkenny).
