WEXFORD MADE the long trip to Emmet Park, Killoe, to take on the reigning Leinster Intermediate champions on Sunday last. The game was played in very good, dry but extremely cold conditions.

The home side were quicker out of the blocks and had their first point, from a free by Denise Murtagh, within two minutes. This was followed by another from the their full-forward, Edel Quinn, before a sweeping move involving midfielder, Jacinta Brady, and centre-forward, Siobhán McGowan, was expertly finished to the net by the talented Murtagh.

To their credit, Wexford re-grouped and made territorial progress, but Catherine Doyle's path to goal was unceremoniously interrupted. From the resultant free, Tara Moloney was most unfortunate to see her shot rebound from the crossbar to the grateful arms of Longford's Máiréad Moore.

The play was concentrated in the middle third of the field for the next ten minutes before the midlanders got their next point from the boot of Anne Marie Bratten. Wexford's only score of the half came on 25 minutes from an expertly-taken free from Tara Moloney after a foul on Lizzy Kent.

Longford dominated the closing stages with points from Denise Murtagh (two frees) and Edel Quinn to leave the halftime score at 1-6 to 0-1 in favour of the home side.

Things looked ominous in the second-half when, straight from the throw-in, Longford swept down field and added to their tally with yet another pointed free from Murtagh. This was followed by more of the same ten minutes later.

However, the visitors did not buckle and enjoyed their best spell over the next ten minutes. Bridget Curran was fouled on her way through but the resultant free curled wide.

They had their most promising move midway through the half when substitute, Claire Finn, received an excellent pass from Sharon Kehoe and sent in a superb crossfield ball which was expertly gathered by newly-introduced Maeve Hughes. She was unlucky not to add to Wexford's tally when her low shot was well saved by Michelle Kilkenny.

For all their efforts in this period, the Slaneysiders' only reward was when another free from Tara Moloney raised a green flag when the ball dropped rather fortuitously under the bar. Longford followed with five further points from Jacinta Brady, Orla Noonan and Denise Murtagh (three frees), interrupted with just one more from Maeve Hughes.

While our girls were comprehensively defeated, it must be remembered that this was a very strong Intermediate side from Longford who were most unfortunate not to reach the All-Ireland final last year.

They were also convincing winners of the Leinster championship and have no weak links. In every area of the field, their players were stronger and tougher and are well-established on the county scene.

Wexford, on the other hand, are in the throes of re-building and are using the league to blood players prior the serious business of the championship and are far from the finished product. They are punching above their weight in this division but the experience gained will be invaluable as the season progresses.

They will be disappointed nonetheless at their own performance as it fell far short of expectations and was not a patch on the previous week against Waterford.

Mary Rose Kelly in goal was as solid as ever while Shelly Doyle and Aisling McNamara performed best in defence. Our midfield pairing of Aoife Waters and Dee Fox could not, for all their endeavour, get to grips with the talented Brady sisters, Elizabeth and Jacinta.

Our forwards could do little with the meagre possession they got but they did work hard, and the introduction of Leona Tector, Emma Hore and Claire Finn livened up their attacking options.

The mentors will learn a lot from this performance and will have plenty to build upon as they prepare for their next assignment, away to league leaders, Cavan, on March 7.