Wexford celebrated their escape from Division 4 of the Allianz Football League for the first time since 2018 with Saturday's sure-footed derby success over Wicklow at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
First-half two-pointers from Shane Pettitt (two) and 'keeper Darragh Brooks (free) saw Wexford enjoy a triple-scores advantage at half-time (0-12 to 0-04) before seeing out their promotion-clinching fifth win of the campaign with games to come against Tipperary (home) and Longford (away).
Wicklow are not out of the picture themselves in seeking an immediate return to the third division, with Oisín McConville’s men facing a key battle at home to Limerick next Sunday, before a trip to Tipperary.
But Wexford savoured achieving their primary objective, with captain Eoghan Nolan, Conor Carty, Ben Brosnan, Kevin O’Grady, Michael Furlong and Niall Hughes the survivors from their last promotion.
An audacious two-pointer from Shane Pettitt crowned a 0-04 to no-score start by the home-side as Seán Ryan and Ben Brosnan (free) also chipped in.
And Ryan was denied a goal by an excellent smothering save from Wicklow stopper Cathal Fitzgerald on 13 minutes before Mark Rossiter mined a 0-05 to 0-01 lead off the rebound.
Joe Prendergast had earlier posted Wicklow’s first, while John Paul Nolan cut the gap to 0-05 to 0-03 with a two-pointer free on 17 minutes.
But a second two-pointer from Pettitt after a crossfield delivery from much advanced Wexford goalie Brooks saw the hosts stretch 0-08 to 0-03 ahead on 26 minutes.
Brooks also contributed richly with a two-pointer free as Páraic Hughes, Brosnan and O’Grady helped consolidate Wexford’s position at half-time (0-12 to 0-04) with Chris O’Brien keeping Wicklow in touch.
Wexford extended ten points clear (0-14 to 0-04) courtesy of defender Eoin Porter and Hughes before Wicklow finally began to pose some difficulties.
And experienced midfielder Dean Healy together with Eoin Darcy pegged it back to 0-14 to 0-6 before substitute Jack Kirwan was denied moments after his introduction as the Wexford ‘keeper stood strong.
Wicklow continued to gain renewed hope as Kevin Quinn eventually got off the mark with a couple of frees, and Darcy added to his tally, to shave the margin to 0-15 to 0-9 on 54 minutes.
While Wexford responded through Glen Malone and Kevin O’Grady, the home-side were grateful for an intervention by Niall Hughes in the 59th minute when parrying a Conor Fee drive for a fruitless ’45 after a long-range free crashed off an upright.
But another Brooks’ two-pointer free helped the purple and gold complete a solid victory to embrace their escape from the fourth division after seven frustrating years.
Wexford: Darragh Brooks (0-04, 2tpf); Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Martin O’Connor; Glen Malone (0-02), Eoghan Nolan, Eoin Porter (0-1); Tom Byrne, Niall Hughes; Páraic Hughes (0-02), Shane Pettitt (0-04, 2tp), Mark Rossiter (0-01); Ben Brosnan (0-03, 2f), Kevin O’Grady (0-02), Seán Ryan (0-01).
Subs: Liam Coleman for Ryan (HT), Cathal Walsh for Byrne (46), Conor Carty for Pettitt (47), Dylan Furlong for Brosnan (53), Liam O’Connor for Porter (68),
Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgerald; Tom Moran, Craig Maguire, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast (0-02), Patrick O’Keane (0-01), Matt Nolan; Dean Healy (0-01), Pádraig O’Toole; John Paul Nolan (0-02, 1tpf), Christopher O’Brien (0-01), Mark Kenny; Andy Maher, Kevin Quinn (0-03 frees), Eoin Darcy (0-02).
Subs: Cian Deering for Maher (10), Conor Fee for Kenny (42), Jack Kirwan for O’Brien (46), Cathal Baker for Nolan (60), Oisín McGaynor for O’Toole (60).
Referee: David Hickey (Carlow).
