Cork left Enniscorthy with tails firmly between legs yesterday after losing the match by eight points and picking up injuries to key players, Brian Corcoran and Mike Morrissey.

With Tom Cashman forced to re-jig his side around the loss of centre back and centre forward, the losers managed just one point from play throughout the second half, as Wexford extended their 2-7 to 1-4 interval lead, despite playing into the wind.

It was clear from the start of proceedings at the Bellefield grounds that the home team was determined to exorcise the memory of a miserable display against Waterford in their previous outing before the foot-and-mouth crisis. Within nine minutes of the throw-in, they had 1-2 on the board. The goal was the product of some neat larceny committed on Brian Corcoran by Paul Codd, who stole the ball 40 yards out and finished from close range.

The Leesiders responded promptly as they enjoyed their most prosperous patch of play; Seanie McGrath batting the ball into the net behind Damien McGrath on 10 minutes after Joe Deane sowed the seeds of confusion in the Wexford square. However, as Corcoran was forced out of the action with a hand injury, the eager home forwards began to pull ahead, despite hitting as many wides as scores.

Their second goal came on the half hour; Paul Finn belting home a well-timed half volley after Codd dropped a long range free into the danger area. Rebel woes were compounded just before the interval as Mike Morrissey was stretchered off after twisting his ankle in a collision with the ubiquitous Codd, who remained the dominant figure after the break.

Not only did he add five more points from frees in the second half, but he was also the man on the line who blocked Joe Deane's 64th minute penalty. Codd's efforts were complemented by sound endeavour throughout the Wexford ranks, with Seanie Flood and Liam Dunne leading a fine defensive display.

Wexford: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D Ryan, S Flood; L O'Gorman, L Dunne, D Ruth; A Fenlon (0-1), M Jordan; D Stamp (0-2), P Codd (1-6, 5 frees, a 65), R McCarthy (0-1); B Goff (0-2), C Byrne (0-2), P Finn (1-0). Subs: C O'Loughlin for Ruth; M Jacob for Finn.

Cork: D Cusack; F Ryan, J Browne, P Mulcahy; W Sherlock, B Corcoran, S O hAilpin; D Barrett, P Ryan (0-1); T McCarthy, M Morrissey, B O'Connor; S McGrath (1-0), K Murray (0-1), J Deane (0-6 all frees). Subs: M Landers for Corcoran; F McCormack for Morrissey; A Browne for O'Connor; M O'Connell; N Ronan (0-1) for McCormack.

Referee: J Sexton (Limerick).