Carroll has the final say for Offaly

Offaly 1-10 Wexford 0-12: Offaly continued their good start to the league with a morale-boosting win over Wexford at St Brendan's Park, Birr, on Saturday.

Victory leaves them well placed to qualify for the knockout stages and five points out of six virtually ensures Division One status for next season - a big improvement on last season when they lost to Carlow in Division Two.

Brian Carroll accounted for 1-9 of their tally and it was fitting that he got the winning score, a soaring effort from about 60 metres close to the sideline in the second minute of added-time. The Offaly defence then held firm as Wexford tried to salvage a point. Goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry came up to take a 70-metre free which dropped short and then goalkeeper Brian Mullins blocked a Rory Jacob effort.

Wexford had the strong wind behind them in the first half and led by 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time. In driving rain and on a slippery pitch both sides wasted opportunities in this half with Offaly hitting a number of wides and Wexford being denied a goal by a great save from Mullins.

Carroll added a point for Offaly early in the second half but when Darren Stamp and Des Mythen pushed Wexford 0-10 to 0-4 ahead they seemed comfortable.

The break Offaly needed arrived in the 56th minute when a Carroll free from midway went to the net off the fingertips of Wexford defender Malachy Travers. Carroll then brought Offaly level.

Rory Jacob pushed Wexford ahead again, 0-12 to 1-8, but Carroll closed out the match for Offaly with the final two points - the first time Offaly had led in the match.

The move which helped swing the game for Offaly was the introduction of big Joe Brady in the 43rd minute. Up to then the lighter and inexperienced Offaly forwards - missing Brendan Murphy who was ruled out by flu - had struggled against the outstanding Darragh Ryan and David O'Connor. But Brady unsettled Ryan at full back and created two goal chances, one of which led to a penalty which Carroll sent over the bar.

OFFALY: B Mullins; B O'Meara, P Cleary, D Franks; D Hoctor, R Hanniffy, K Brady; G Hanniffy, A Hanrahan; D Hayden (0-1), M O'Hara, J Bergin; B Carroll (1-9, 1-5 from frees), S Browne. Subs: D Murray for Bergin (32 mins), J Brady for Egan (43 mins), B Teehan for Hoctor (50 mins), M Cordial for Browne (65 mins).

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; D O'Connor, D Ryan, M Travers; C Kenny, K Rossiter, D Lyng (0-2, one free, one 65); T Mahon (0-1), D Stamp (0-1); M Jacob, E Quigley (0-1), PJ Nolan (0-2); D Mythen (0-1), R Jacob (0-4, three from frees), MJ Furlong. Subs: S O'Neill for Furlong (61 mins), S Doyle for Nolan (70 mins).

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).