Thanks to awful Offaly in-discipline and moments of magic from Mark Rossiter, Wexford weaved their way into the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals, thanks to a preliminary victory today. 

In a high-scoring opening half of entertainment, Brian Molloy and Cian Farrell slotted early points as both sides settled into the contest.

With eight minutes elapsed though, Offaly hit the front courtesy of a goal, Anton Sullivan tucking a penalty past Wexford goalkeeper Darragh Brooks, as the hosts went 1-1 to 0-1 in front.

Eoghan Nolan and Sullivan exchanged points before Wexford narrowed the gap, Molloy’s second and Glen Malone’s point hauling them to within one. 

Nigel Dunne replied for Offaly, but their two-point lead was swiftly swallowed up after Nolan and Robbie Brooks pointed accurately. 

Farrell and Dunne replenished the buffer for the home side and after Nolan and Dunne, with his third point, swapped scores, they led by a slender 1-6 to 0-7 scoreline.

Then came a wave of Wexford momentum, Padraig Hughes, Kevin O’Grady, and Mark Rossiter all accurate to not only bring them level but also edge themselves ahead by a point.

Ruairi McNamee looked like he’d restored parity before the interval but Rossiter, collecting a fine ball from Hughes, tucked a goal away with aplomb as the visitors, who had themselves been reeling off a goal concession earlier, took a 1-10 to 1-7 lead in at half time.

As the second half commenced, O’Connor Park was tense, both fans knowing this could be sides’ last involvement in this season’s Tailteann Cup.

Ciaran Donnelly closed the gap with the second half’s first point before Wexford flexed their attacking muscles once more.

Rossiter, twice, Nolan and O’Grady doing the damage in between Joe Maher’s red card, the Offaly man collecting his second yellow Rossiter took his total tally to five.

Replacement Bernard Allen cancelled out Molloy’s third point before Peter Cunningham made it a five-point difference, 1-10 to 1-15 after fifty minutes.

Hughes and Malone both bagged their match brace apiece before McNamee and substitute Ben Brosnan kicked a point over each.

Brosnan then repeated the feat this time with Allen’s second before Brooks bagged himself a brace, getting in on the scoring party.

McNamee and Allen both went one better, hitting individual hat tricks before John Turbitt and Rossiter, fittingly, rounded off the Wexford scoring.

Sandwiching their scores was a hero to zero moment for Offaly goal scorer Sullivan, getting himself booked and black carded, their ill-discipline again haunting them to the groans of O’Connor Park. 

Aaron Leavy’s late goal did give the crowd a cheer but by then it was too little, too late. 

Wexford, deserving four-point victors and through to the quarter-finals, Offaly down, out and left rueing an act of, somewhat, self-destruction.