Division One B/Tipperary ... 3-21 Wexford ... 1-11: The Wexford hurlers remained corralled in their dressing-room yesterday and asked the team management to allow them reflect on matters among themselves. By Seán Moran in Nenagh
It's hard to imagine what they had to say about this - to borrow a phrase from Cavan football guru PJ Carroll - "notorious hammering", but for the 3,000 attendance at sunny McDonagh Park in Nenagh, the less said the better.
In fact, Wexford can still qualify for the second phase of the Allianz National Hurling League if they win their remaining fixtures, but they'll need to be unrecognisable from the sorry collective who had meekly handed over this match by about the 15th minute.
It's absurd to talk about turning points in a one-way system like yesterday, but in the third minute Wexford full forward Anthony O'Leary had a goal chance nimbly blocked by Benny Dunne.
The ball was swept up-field for Ger O'Grady to break down to Lar Corbett and his waspish shot ran straight through the back netting for Tipp's opening goal.
From then on, Tipperary won as they pleased. Their forwards were rampant and with no shortage of possession racked up an enormous score for a win which guarantees them a place in the next phase of the competition. Captain Brian O'Meara was the only one of the selected front eight not to score from play as the home side riddled their opponents.
A year ago, in an emphatic win in the same fixture, Wexford registered some promise, but this time around there was an unco-ordinated feel to their efforts as players struggled to get to grips with their game.
Michael Doyle would presumably have preferred a more testing afternoon, but so far it's been a powerful start to the league campaign.
Yesterday, the defence was immensely competitive in the early stages when the match was still a contest of sorts. The half backs were particularly dominant with Brian Horgan prominent on the left wing.
If the half backs were hardly ever bothered, the full-back line didn't have a whole lot more to do, but there was enough to suggest that they would have had a more troubled afternoon had Paul Codd and Barry Lambert got a more serviceable supply.
But Wexford's centrefield had a ragged afternoon.
Only in the second half did Adrian Fenlon start to play a bit of ball and, by then, the match was over. The fractured exchanges suited Tommy Dunne who sniped a couple of points and newcomer Colin Morrissey had a lively game.
But it was up front that Tipperary overran the opposition. Wexford made a couple of changes in the full back line and it was never a happy combination.
Malachy Travers had a great match in this fixture a year ago, but the ball didn't run for him from early on yesterday and was replaced. Doc O'Connor came in at full back, but was heavily strapped and didn't look 100 per cent.
Replacement and dual player Rory Mallon played well when introduced, but the defensive task was impossible.
Tipp's starting full forward Ger O'Grady put himself about and if he looked more of a scoring threat out the field, he managed to provide the critical assist for all three of his team's goals.
Popular with the crowd he has earned a run when the league gets serious next month.
Having set up Corbett for the first goal, O'Grady sent in Eoin Kelly for the second in the 15th minute.
Travers was a little unlucky in that he disrupted Kelly's first shot, but the Tipp forward availed of a kindly break to crack home. Then, in injury-time before the break, O'Grady pulled down a high ball and dispatched Corbett for the third - and clinching - goal.
The second half was like a Broadway audition with replacements streaming on to the field, the Tipp hurlers with a bit more pep than their Wexford counterparts. Even allowing for the diminished urgency and a token goal from Paul Codd, Tipp still outscored Wexford in the second half.
In injury-time at the end, Darren Stamp was shown a red card for a nasty but - as far as could be judged - unintentional pull on Tommy Dunne.
An unhappy end to a miserable afternoon for the visitors.
TIPPERARY: B Cummins; J Devane, P Maher, B Dunne; E Corcoran, A Butler, B Horgan; T Dunne (0-4, one sideline, one free), C Morrissey (0-1); M O'Leary (0-3), C Gleeson (0-3), B O'Meara; E Kelly (1-6, three points from frees), G O'Grady (0-2), L Corbett (2-2). Subs: L Cahill for Morrissey (48 mins); M Maher for Devane (54); R Flannery for Corcoran (57); E O'Neill for O'Meara (58); E Ryan for Horgan (65).
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D O'Connor, M Travers; D Stamp, D Ruth, K Rossiter; A Fenlon (0-1), M O'Leary; T Mahon, G Coleman, M Jordan (0-1); P Codd (1-7, four points from frees), A O'Leary, B Lambert (0-2). Subs: R Mallon for Travers, L Dunne for Rossiter (both 29 mins); R McCarthy for M O'Leary (half-time); K Furlong for Ruth (44); MJ Furlong for Jordan (66).
Referee: P Aherne (Carlow).
