Two goals in the second and 15th minutes of the second half were the crucial scores that set up this comfortable win for Monaghan in what was, overall, a disappointing game in Scotstown yesterday. Monaghan led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the end of a scrappy first half, but after their first goal, they upped the tempo and dominated for most of the second period.

Leading by 11 points entering the final quarter, Monaghan looked home and dry, but a late Wexford rally caused some anxious moments and left John O'Connor, in the Monaghan goal, quite busy. Overall, though, Wexford lacked the penetration and after Monaghan's blistering third quarter, they simply had too much to do.

Monaghan: J O'Connor; E Murphy, D McDermott, B Morgan; D Duffy, S Mullen, J Conlon; P McShane (0-1), C Ronaghan; M Daly, G McGuirk (0-1), K Hughes (0-4); D Smyth (0-4), D McKernan (1-2), S McGinnity (1-0). Subs: E Hoey (0-1) for C Ronaghan, D Freeman for S McGinnity.

Wexford: D O'Sullivan; C Roche, P Harrington, P Wallace; D Redmond, B Kirwan, D Breen; J D'Arcy, O Kinlough; B Carty, M Dillon, J Berry (0-1); L O'Brien (0-6), M Mahon, J Hegarty (1-1). Sub: D Stafford for D Redmond.

Referee: E Stenson (Leitrim).