There was a sensational end to the game at Breffni Park yesterday when Wexford, who had reduced a 10-point deficit and turned it into a two-point lead, were dramatically beaten by a Ronan Carolan penalty two minutes into injury-time. Two sendings-off (Pat Forde of Wexford was dismissed in the 58th minute and Cavan's Terry Farrelly one minute later) and an attack on referee Michael Curley of Galway by a member of the Wexford camp at the close spoiled a game that had eventually exploded into life.

Cavan dominated for much of the game and led by 0-13 to 0-3 five minutes into the second half, seemingly heading for a comfortable victory. Wexford, however, suddenly put their game together and scored 1-4 in a five-minute spell, the goal coming from Forde.

Cavan managed only one point from Jason Reilly during this period and there was a further setback when Scott Doran got through the Cavan defence again in the 17th minute for another goal. With five minutes left, Wexford got on level terms, then Jason Lawlor put them ahead.

The sendings-off were followed by a further Wexford point from Ross Dunphy.

There was still time for one last Cavan attack and when Jamie Coffey was fouled, Carolan converted the penalty.

Cavan: B McCormack; R Galligan, T Farrelly, G Sheridan; A Forde, B Morris (0-1), R Rogers; J Coffey, P Smith; L Reilly (0-2), J Crowe, R Cunningham (0-2); J Reilly (0-4), R Carolan (1-5), M Leddy. Subs: F Cahill (0-1) for M Leddy, C Brady for G Sheridan.

Wexford: O Murphy; S O'Shaughnessy, M Kavanagh, D Redmond; C Sunderland, R Stafford, L O'Brien (0-2); W Carley, J Harrington; O Kinlough, P Forde (1-0), J Byrne; S Doran (1-4), M Forde, J Lawlor (0-3). Subs: J Darcy (0-1) for W Carley, R Dunphy (0-1) for J Byrne, M Mahon for M Forde.

Referee: M Curley (Galway).