Derry’s long trek to the sunny south east reaped rich dividends as they romped to a 4-16 to 0-10 victory over Wexford at Wexford Park.

With 18 points to spare in what was a one-sided contest, the Oak Leaf County sealed their place in Bowl One for Monday morning’s second-round Qualifier draw, while the Slaneysiders’ summer is over.

Damian McErlain’s men took care of business early as a glut of goals had them in control at half time, 4-5 to 0-5 to the good. As the home defence parted like the biblical Red Sea, goals from Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Ryan Bell and Enda Lynn propelled the Division Four winners into a commanding ten-point lead inside 28 minutes, 4-3 to 0-5.

Conor McAtamney extended the gap two minutes from the interval and a Bell free closed the first-half scoring as the northerners led by twelve at the short whistle.

Points from Brian Malone, Conor Devitt and Michael Furlong had the Model County in contention with ten minutes played, 0-3 to 1-1, Heron netting in the ninth minute, but the three-pointers from McGuigan and Bell in the 14th and 18th minutes respectively settled the game as a contest.

Jonathan Bealin (free) and Niall Hughes also pointed for the hosts before the break but the concession of four first-half goals left them with a mountain to climb in the second half.

The gap was out to 18 by the hour mark as the visitors reeled off a succession of points courtesy of McGuigan (3), McAtamney, Lynn, Bell and Christopher Bradley (2), James Cash and Donal Shanley slotting rare points at the other end, the last six points shared as the match petered towards an inevitable conclusion.

Derry - T Mallon; K McKaigue, B Rogers, N Keenan; J Rocks, C McKaigue, R Mooney; C McAtamney (0-2), C McFaul (0-1); E Bradley (1-2), B Heron (0-2), P Cassidy; S McGuigan (1-3), R Bell (1-4, 0-2f), E Lynn (1-0). Subs: C Bradley (0-1) for E Bradley, E Concannon for K McKaigue, S F Quinn fo N Keenan, J Doherty (0-1) for S McGuigan, C Mulholland for B Rogers, P Coney for E Lynn.

Wexford - M Doyle; M Furlong (0-1), E Porter, A Nolan; G Malone, B Malone (0-1), M O’Connor; D Waters, N Hughes (0-1); E Nolan, B Brosnan, C Devitt (0-1); K O’Grady, D Shannon, J Bealin (0-1f). Subs: J Cash (0-1) for A Nolan, T Byrne (0-2) for E Nolan, S Doyle for C Devitt, D Shanley (0-2) for J Bealin, J Tubritt for D Shannon.

Referee - A Nolan.

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