A goal 25 minutes into the second half from Kieran Tavey helped Monaghan pull two points out of the fire against Wexford in Scotstown.
Tavey finished a move fashioned by lively 19-year-old Thomas Freeman. After finishing the first half level at 0-5 each, the second half proved more lively. Darren Swift opened the scoring with a Monaghan point, but the excitement level really increased when Tavey struck his vital goal 10 minutes from time to put Monaghan 1-9 to 1-8 ahead.
Wexford came back to level with a Burke point but Monaghan had the final say when centre half back Dick Clerkin scored a superb winning point two minutes from time.
Monaghan: D McCarville; G McQuaid, D Duffy, S Mullen; M Slowey, D Clerkin (0-1), D McArdle; C McColl, P Connor; D Swift (0-2), R Ronaghan, T Freeman; D Smith (0-3), G Flanagan, K Tavey (1-4). Subs: N Morrin for Mullen, M Daly for G Flanagan; R Tracey for Ronaghan.
Wexford: O Murphy; C Morris, P Wallace, P Keogh; D Breen, L O'Brien, B Kavanagh; J Darcey, T Howlin (1-0); N Morris, J Whelan, M Mahon (0-1); P Forde, J Hegarty (0-2), M Forde (0-6). Subs: S Hughes for N Morris; J Berry for Howlin; M Byrne for Whelan.
Referee: P Mullen (Co Antrim).
