Tipperary supporters trooped out of Semple Stadium in Thurles yesterday in fairly sunny humour. This extended as far as a few declarations that the county's hurlers were "on their way back".

Although the performance which brushed aside a lethargic Wexford was indeed impressive, no sins of presumption were being committed inside the winning dressing-room.

"It's too early to judge how we're going," said manager Nicky English afterwards. "but what you can judge is attitude and that is pretty good. In the second half, we fought hard and moved the ball quicker.

"Wexford are experienced with a load of All-Ireland medals, while we're young and playing for places. Wexford wouldn't be as concerned as Tipp would be about winning."

The demeanour of English's Wexford counterpart didn't entirely dispel the notion. But even Rory Kinella's cheery disposition didn't disguise his disappointment.

"We were in contention at halftime, but indiscipline let us down. In the second half, their pace put us in serious trouble, but they were on fire, they're flying at the moment. I'm not going to pinpoint any one individual, but we'll have to have a look at it and get ourselves back on track."

Tipperary's pace up front was a decisive influence on the team's smooth second-half performance. With the midfield crowded out (the home team played three in the middle) and Wexford's full back Ger Cushe dragged well out the field away from his preferred theatre of operations, Liam Cahill and Declan Browne posed constant threat on the inside.

Yet the chief source of scoring was the dead-ball acumen of Tommy Dunne, who finished with nine points from frees - often needlessly conceded by Wexford. His display was equalled by Paul Codd whose 16 represented all but two of the team's total.

Until Tipp opened up in the second half, the match didn't make for riveting spectacle - and by then any atmosphere of uncertainty had evaporated. Between the 10th and 45th minute, 1-12 was scored without a single point coming from play. Rory McCarthy registered Wexford's first score from play as late as the 53rd minute.

Kinsella was correct in maintaining his side had a chance at halftime. Having weathered an early storm from the home side which pushed Tipperary into a 0-4 (including three from play scored by Eddie Enright, Cahill and Eddie Tucker) to nil lead, Wexford steadied and began to edge back into the match.

Centrefield was hurling well, with Adrian Fenlon busy and his clubmate Ryan Quigley looking impressive beside him, keeping the ball moving enthusiastically. In a 10-minute spell, Codd made an uninterrupted break on the scoreboard.

The Rathnure player had shown admirable commitment by returning to training a day after his club's disappointment in Wednesday's All-Ireland final. Yesterday his deadball contribution was nearly flawless (one wide) and included 1-2 between the 11th and 21st minute.

The goal lent some controversy to the opening half. Codd looked to have gone for the goal and although the shot was half-blocked on the line, the ball appeared to have ruffled the net. Initially a point was flagged, but after consultation between the referee and the umpires, the green flag was raised.

A further point from a free gave Wexford the lead and eight minutes before the interval, the signs were ominous for the home team as they had opened with the benefit of a strong wind. Five unanswered points from frees restored Tipperary's advantage and underlined Kinsella's frustration at his team's rate of fouling: in all 10 points were conceded from frees.

A margin of four points wasn't enormously comforting, but in the end the second half was never competitive. The 20 minutes after halftime, when Wexford needed to make some sort of an impact, didn't go decisively for either side, but Tipperary extended their lead by a point.

In the 50th minute, the match was over. Cahill was sharply on to a bout of fumbling in the Wexford defence and his quick pass sent Browne in on goal and the dual star finished without fuss. Cahill himself had a good chance two minutes later, but blew the ball wide.

At the other end, Tipperary's defence was solid with Eamonn Corcoran and David Kennedy managing comfortably with Mitch Jordan and Martin Storey whose fitness has still to recover from recent injury and illness-enforced absences.

Gary Laffan made an appearance from the bench and Rory Kinsella will take some satisfaction from his full forward's continuing rehabilitation. Laffan won everything that came into him even if his use of the ball was a little rusty.

Tipperary can feel quite happy with the successful outcome to their most important match of the season to date. As Kinsella said, it was real top-of-the-ground stuff for this time of the year. Everyone may be looking down the line from March, but as English said: "If a team keeps winning, that's the team that plays."

TIPPERARY: K O'Brien; D Fahy, E Corcoran, L Sheedy; R Ryan, D Kennedy, J Leahy (0-1, a free); T Dunne (0-9, all frees), E Enright (0-1); P Ormonde (0-1), E Tucker (0-1), W Maher; L Cahill (0-2), B O'Meara, D Browne (1-1). Subs: A Moloney for O'Meara (38 mins); P Kelly for Moloney (54 mins).

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, G Cushe, E Furlong; D Ruth, D Ryan, S Flood; A Fenlon (0-1, a sideline), R Quigley; R McCarthy (0-1), M Storey, L Murphy; T Dempsey, M Jordan, P Codd (1-6, 1-4 from frees, one 65). Subs: G Laffan for Storey and L O'Gorman for Flood (both 41 mins).

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).