Wexford boosted their chances of promotion and severely dented those of Carlow when they comprehensively beat the Division 2B table-toppers at New Ross yesterday.

Wexford, who had lost their last two matches, always looked the likely winners. They made the more positive start and shot four points against the wind before Carlow were able to open their account.

The winners, who led by 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval with the goal coming from Jason Lawlor, struck another vital blow in the 37th minute when Lawlor raced on to a through-ball from Jim Byrne and side-footed it to the Carlow net.

Carlow's hopes were revived somewhat when Garvan Ware scored a goal from a penalty in the 15th minute of the half but Wexford finished strongly and John Hegarty's last-minute goal put the icing on the cake for the home side.

WEXFORD: O Murphy; D Breen, M Kavanagh, D Redmond; C Sunderland, R Stafford, L Brien (0-1); W Carley, J Harrington; J Byrne (0-1, a free), P Forde, J Hegarty (1-1); S Doran (0-5), M Forde (0-4, from frees), J Lawlor (2-1). Subs: S O'Shaughnessy for Kavanagh, M Mahon for M Forde.

CARLOW: J Clarke; B Farrell, A Corden, J Murphy; J Kavanagh, K Walker, P Doyle; S Kavanagh, J Morrissey; P Kingston, G Ware (1- 0), M Carpenter; N Doyle (0-2), J Nevin (0-1), M Dowling (0-5, from frees). Subs: J Byrne for Morrissey, P Nolan for Carpenter.

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).