After a lacklustre opening period, Ethan Boyle’s penalty plus clinical strikes from substitutes, Aaron Doran and Eoin Kenny, earned Wexford a 3-0 win over Avondale United at Ferrycarrig Park tonight.

Wexford, hoping for a summer charge upwards into the First Division playoffs, would’ve been happy to have a cup run, even amidst their lengthy injury list.

Promising striker Thomas Oluwa started with Aaron Dobbs’ ruled out and Max Kelly also won his first start for the club.

Four minutes in and Corban Piper seared in behind Avondale’s defence only to shoot wide.

Faced with unlocking a deep lying, disciplined, Avondale defence, route one nearly proved the key for Wexford when Ethan Boyle’s long throw was met by Piper, who flicked it past Sean Barron into the net only to see it disallowed for a foul.

The best opportunity arrived shortly afterwards, Mark Hanratty scampered inside and unleashed a shot which, on the rebound, sat up invitingly for Oluwa who lifted his effort over the bar.

As the half hour mark ticked by, Avondale could be very satisfied so far, frustrating their hosts well, Sam O’Driscoll standing out as a key defender with multiple well-timed blocks.

Down the right, Reece Webb injected some excitement with a mazy dribble and cross which Oluwa and Piper both miscued before home goalkeeper Charlie Heffernan had to gather a dangerous Avondale cross.

Boyle then blasted a bullet header goalwards, but the captain’s effort went too high, as the hosts continued to slumber, despite efforts to raise the tempo, they were being undermined by a constant lack of quality in the final third.

An intensity was missing for Wexford and a Piper blast taken quickly extended Barron, but they were then gifted a lifeline on the stroke of half time.

Hanratty hared onto a ball in behind and Barron raced out, looking like he won the ball, but not in the eyes of referee, Gavin Colfer, who pointed to the spot.

After some subtle arguing, home captain Boyle strode forward and dispatched the penalty to the net with ease, salt in very raw Avondale wounds and a helping hand Wexford probably needed.

There was more of a spring in Wexford’s step after the break as Piper went close but Barron and co defended resolutely to keep it at 1-0, Avondale down but not out.

Past the hour however, with a few fresh attacking substitutions to boot, Wexford made it 2-0.

Oluwa put the head down and made great ground into the box and then he had the presence of mind to spy Aaron Doran arriving into the box.  His cutback was into the midfielder’s path and Doran drilled home with panache to double the home advantage.

Stephen O’Connor tested Heffernan as Avondale sought a route back into the tie, but Boyle nearly made it three, bustling forward and shimmying a shot just past the post.

Oluwa spurned a one-on-one after electric pace put him through before David O’Leary whisked a rasper a whisker wide for the visitors.

Although Wexford pushed hard for a third in the final ten minutes, Doran headed wide, but Avondale kept going, as led by O’Driscoll, they concluded their cup campaign in spirit.

Yet deep in injury time, the First Division outfit got a perfect ending, Eoin Kenny making it two goals in two games, tapping in with composure after fine play from Sean Fitzpatrick rolled him in.

Up next for Wexford is another home game against Treaty United in what will be a key clash for a playoff position. They will, at least, have another FAI Cup fixture to look forward to as well.