Tipperary 4-18; Wexford 1-13: Wexford were simply blown away by Tipperary in this amazingly one-sided game at Wexford Park yesterday.

There was no drama to be savoured as Tipperary were in cruise control right through the 70 minutes. Indeed, had they played with the same urgency in the second period as in the opening 35 minutes the victory margin would have been even more embarrassing for the home side.

The strong wind saw Tipperary dominate the opening period. Such was the strength of the wind two deliveries from netminder Brendan Cummins set up goals for his side as the Wexford defence was all over the place under the high ball.

Paul Codd pointed Wexford in front from a free inside 60 seconds but it was the only time the home side held the lead. The visitors may have had to wait until the eighth minute for their opening score but there was no stopping them thereafter. Ger O'Grady gathered a Cummins clearance, picked out John Carroll, and the centre forward crashed the ball past Damien Fitzhenry.

Tipperary's response to Wexford's every move was emphatic and it was Lar Corbett who controlled yet another lengthy Cummins delivery to fire to the net. When Carroll added a further goal eight minutes before the break the home side looked in disarray.

Wexford did manage to raise a green flag three minutes into injury time when Robbie Codd goaled following a goalmouth scramble, but Tipperary still led by 3-12 to 1-4, at the interval.

Wexford had the aid of the wind in the second half but it did little to lift their game. After Paddy O'Brien and Paul Carley had traded points Corbett fielded a high Carroll centre to leave Fitzhenry helpless from close range.

Indeed the crowd began to filter from the ground shortly afterwards with the home side offering little apart from six second-half points from Paul Codd, who fought a single-handed battle up front.

Tipperary know they will have much tougher games ahead, and will be hoping to have centre-back David Kennedy available for next weekend, having been sent-off on a second yellow card after 70 minutes.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; T Costello, J Devane, M Phelan; E Corcoran, D Kennedy, D Fitzgerald; E Enright (0-1), P Kelly (0-2, '65); L Crorbett (2-1), J Carroll (2-2), B Dunne; S Butler (0-3), G O'Grady (0-1), P O'Brien (0-6, frees). Subs: T Dunne (0-1) for B Dunne (41 mins); N Moloney (0-1) for O'Grady (56); D Fanning for Fitzgerald (62).

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; P Donoghue, D Ryan, M Travers; R McCarthy, D O'Connor, M O'Leary; P Codd (0-10, seven frees, sideline cut), J O'Connor; P Carley (0-2), L Murphy, M Jacob; B Lambert, R Codd (1-0), R Jacob (0-1). Subs: M Jordan for Lambert (43 mins); R Stafford for R Codd (47); B Goff for M Jacob (56); W Doran for McCarthy (60).

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).