Wexford got off to a fantastic start in their second game in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on Saturday evening and ran out easy winners on a scoreline of 5-24 to 2-09.

Offaly served up very little resistance, finished the game with 12 men, and this stage the “Faithful County” must question their own future in the top tier of the country’s hurling elite. They showed some promise in their games against Galway and Kilkenny, but they were no match for the Slaneysiders.

Despite playing against the breeze in the opening half the contest was virtually over after the first thirty five minutes. Goals from Conor McDonald, Aidan Nolan and a Mark Fanning penalty, converted Wexford’s dominance into a half time rout of 3-12 to 0-06.

The second half proved to be no better for the Offaly men as Lee Chin and Jack O’Connor added to the Wexford goal tally, although they did manage to rattle the Wexford net on two ocassions through Oisin Kelly and Shane Dooley.

Wexford now march on to Innovate Wexford Park for next Saturday’s clash with Galway where they can book their Leinster final ticket.

Wexford: M Fanning 1-0 (1 pen); S Donohoe, L Ryan, D Reck 0-1; S Murphy; P Foley, M O’Hanlon, D O’Keeffe 0-1; K Foley 0-1, A Nolan 1-1; J O’Connor 1-3, L Chin 1-4 (0-4f); C McDonald 1-1, R O’Connor 0-7 (5f), P Morris 0-2.

Subs: C Firman for Donohoe 46, L Og McGovern for Morris 51, H Kehoe 0-3 (2f) for R O’Connor 51, W Devereux for P Foley 54, D Dunne for Chin 64.

Offaly: E Cahill; P Delaney, S Gardiner, B Conneely; D O’Toole Greene, D Egan, P Camon; S Kinsella, D King; B Murphy, C Mahon, O Kelly 1-1; S Dooley 1-5 (5f), J Bergin 0-1, K Dunne 0-1.

Subs: C Egan for Mahon h/t, T Geraghty 0-1 for Murphy h/t, D Currams for Kinsella 43, P Rigney for Conneely 48, R Hughes for Bergin 54.