A disciplined defensive performance from the hosts restricted Wexford to just three points from play before a meagre attendance of 336. At the other end, Grogan was Tipp’s matchwinner again but there were solid displays from the home side as Philip Austin’s tireless display was rewarded with three points from play.
Crucially, Tipp were 0-11 to 0-7 clear at half-time having played against a stiff first half breeze and Wexford could never get any closer in the second-half. Grogan was denied a goal in the 47th minute by Anthony Masterson while at the other end, Redmond Barry rattled the crossbar with 15 minutes remaining, before Ciarán Lyng’s follow-up was smothered by keeper Matthew O’Donnell.
Tipperary held sway at midfield where Brian Jones and George Hannigan were assisted by the roving Johnny Cagney.
Barry and Ben Brosnan were the only Wexford forwards to register points from play while Tipp had scoring contributions from five players, including a superb late point from sub Niall Curran. With 15 minutes remaining, Tipp’s led 0-14 to 0-10 but Wexford failed to score for the remainder of the tie and conceded three further points.
Scorers for Tipperary: B Grogan 0-9 (6f), P Austin 0-3, S Grogan & B Mulvihill 0-2 each, N Curran 0-1.
Scorers for Wexford: C Lyng 0-4f, B Brosnan 0-4 (3f), R Barry & A Doyle 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: M O’Donnell; A Morrissey, P Codd, C McDonald; C Aylward, H Coghlan, B Fox; B Jones, G Hannigan; J Cagney, P Austin, B Mulvihill; B Coen, S Grogan, B Grogan.
Subs: D McGrath for Coen (59), N Curran for Mulvihill (66).
WEXFORD: A Masterson; N Murphy, G Molloy, A Doyle; B Malone, D Murphy, A Morrissey; R Quinlivan, D Waters; S O’Neill, R Barry, F Ryan; C Lyng, P Byrne, B Brosnan.
Subs: C Morris for Ryan (ht), A Flynn for Morrissey (44), S Roche for Byrne (48).
