It could not have been easier for the Wicklow footballers as they handed out a 16-point beating to neighbours Carlow in this O'Byrne Cup tie at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.
Carlow were without any of the players from Leinster club champions O'Hanrahans, but even their absence did not fully excuse this inept performance.
Wicklow were superior in all facets of play - fielding, passing, fitness and particularly scoring. In Tommy Gill and Keith Byrne they had two excellent scoring forwards while the home county could not boast a forward worthy of the name.
Wicklow led 1-6 to 0-2 at halftime and Carlow did threaten a comeback by dominating the opening 10 minutes of the second half. But their scoring dividend was 0-2 to Wicklow's 0-1. And once Wicklow regained command, their forwards scored almost at will throughout the final 20 minutes.
Wicklow now advance to meet Dublin in Aughrim on Sunday next.
WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth; M Coffey, B Whelan, T Burke; G Jamieson, B O'Donovan, B O hAnnaidh (0-1); D Coffey, G Doran; T Harney, R Coffey (0-1), S O'Neill; K Byrne (0-4), T Gill (1-5), J Behan (1-0). Subs: B Sheehan (0-1) for D Coffey, A Mernagh for O'Neill, P Callaghan (0-2) for Harney, C Twomey for Burke, D Dillon (0-1) for Doran.
CARLOW: J Kearns; P O'Dwyer, B Farrell, D Barcoe; J Hickey, C Kelly, M Drea; J McGrath, S O'Brien; B Kelly, P Nolan (0-1), B Kavanagh (0-1); A Hickey, S Kavanagh (0-3), E McGarry. Subs: V Fleming for Barcoe, J Connolly for J Hickey, T Nolan for O'Dwyer.
Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).
An in-form Barry Foley, certain to be named as new Limerick captain this week, hit a hat-trick of goals in their 4-14 to 5-6 win over a lively Athenry in a senior hurling challenge yesterday.
