Wexford overwhelmed Carlow 4-12 to 0-10 with a powerful second-half show to claim a slot in the Leinster SFC final.
The Model County outscored their neighbours 2-8 to 0-3 in the second 35 but the game was in the balance until just before the break, even with Shane Roche scoring 2-3 for Wexford in the opening half.
Unusually for a side that have had a lot of recent experience at HQ, Wexford looked nervous and that translated into a poor opening quarter.
After Roche scored the game’s opening score inside the opening minutes, Carlow seized the initiative. They were helped by a Wexford defence that coughed up far too many frees to a side with skilled dead-ball men.
Brian Murphy scored his and Carlow’s first from a free and his brother Brendan landed a tremendous point from play to put the underdogs ahead.
Wexford began to compound their poor tackling with poor shooting, as Ben Brosnan, Eric Bradley and Ciaran Lyng – all very reliable in the championship to date - missing the posts.
Brian Murphy kicked two more frees before Roche put the Slaneysiders back in the game. A typically slick passing move involving Brosnan and Lyng ended with Roche jinking cleverly before slamming the ball home with his right foot.
A monster free from Daniel St Ledger put Carlow back in front before Brosnan finally found his range to land his first.
Roche landed two more points, which brought an immediate response from Carlow but Wexford would decisively lead at the break.
Yet another great Wexford move, involving Red Barry and Lyng ended again in the hands of Roche and this time he finished smartly with his left to bring his first-half tally to 2-3 out of Wexford’s 2-4.
Carlow could consider themselves unlucky to trail by three at the break but the second half was a different story.
Brosnan kicked two frees to begin the second half and Jason Ryan’s men looked more settled in the second spell.
Wexford began to dominate possession and Carlow’s chances, when they did arrive, were spurned. Graeme Molloy, who was having a very good day in the full-back, was snuffing out Carlow’s attacks.
At the other end Ciaran Lyng eventually bagged his opening score and Wexford stretched their lead to six points. The game then hit yet another lull as Wexford lost the ball far too often but the Barrowsiders were unable to take advantage and their play was too often lumbering when speed may have been more effective.
Brian Murphy scored Carlow’s first score of the second half but it took 15 minutes and by then the tide had turned against Luke Dempsey’s men.
PJ Banville came on and put some nice pressure on Ryan’s selection with a well-taken goal and then Eric Bradley also claimed a major before the end.