THE CLASS of Ciarán Lyng was the key ingredient in Wexford Park on Sunday last as the home side claimed their first win in the Division 3 group of death with another one-point margin at Offaly's expense, similar to their championship clash at the same venue last July.

The talented attacker, making his first start of the year and playing mainly at full-forward, masterminded the game's key moment in the 18th minute. Receiving a quickly-taken Paddy Byrne line ball, he had the vision to pick out Adrian Flynn with a beautiful pass over the last covering defender, and the Gusserane man finished with a low shot past Alan Mulhall (1-3 to 0-1).

Lyng had registered the first of three points from play earlier after initial efforts from Ben Brosnan and Flynn, with Wexford making better use of their chances than a wasteful Offaly. The visitors had kicked four wides and landed another two weak efforts into Anthony Masterson's hands before their best player, tricky full-forward John Reynolds, opened their account after 13 minutes.

They had also required netminder Alan Mulhall to parry a goalbound Ciarán Lyng effort midway through the first quarter, with the rebound falling to Paddy Byrne whose effort was blocked for a fruitless '45.

However, Offaly continued to have plenty of possession, and they finally made it count when Niall McNamee pointed a free before Wexford handed them a gift goal in the 26th minute.

Colm Morris tried to sheperd the ball over the end line on the edge of the square, but Paul McConway hooked it back into the danger zone and the outstretched boot of David Egan directed it to the top corner of the net.

One minute later, McNamee levelled from a free, with Ben Brosnan and the big Offaly number 15 exchanging further points before Wexford finished the half well as overlapping defenders Colm Morris and Brian Malone sent the ball over the bar (1-6 to 1-4).

Unlike the previous week in Drogheda when they lost their way in the third quarter, Wexford outscored their rivals by six points to two this time around.

John Reynolds, still posing problems for Niall Murphy after already seeing off David Walsh, fisted an early Offaly score, but Wexford then hit four points in seven minutes from Ben Brosnan ('45 and two frees), plus a neat Ciarán Lyng effort after good work by Daithí Waters and Paddy Byrne (1-10 to 1-5).

Niall NcNamee ended 12 barren minutes for Offaly with a pointed free but Pat Naughter and Lyng hit back to leave six between them entering the last quarter.

And although John Reynolds responded with his third point, Adrian Flynn and Lyng (free) had made it 1-14 to 1-7 midway through the last quarter and Wexford appeared to be coasting.

Indeed, substitute Eric Bradley came close to goaling but was bottled up in the square, while Alan Mulhall made a timely interception to deny him again with five minutes left.

The lifeline that Offaly were searching for arrived in the 67th minute when an ill-advised short kick-out to the left wing by Anthony Masterson was won by Niall McNamee.

He made tracks for goal before feeding Alan Lynam who arrived at speed, and his stinging shot on the run rattled the net and left the midlanders with a glimmer of hope (1-14 to 2-7).

Redmond Barry kicked Wexford's seventh wide of the half from an overall tally of twelve (eleven for Offaly) before Karol Slattery ventured forward to reduce the deficit further with less than 90 seconds of normal time left.

It was all Offaly at this stage, with Niall McNamee tapping over a free before a probing high ball from schoolboy substitute Anton Sullivan, who had played with St. Mary's (Edenderry) in the Leinster Schools semi-final 24 hours earlier, was punched out for a '45 by Anthony Masterson.

Niall Murphy was then penalised for a pick-up one and a half minutes into the minimum two minutes of added time announced, and McNamee's free left just one between them.

Thankfully, Anthony Masterson booted the resultant kick-out over the sideline and the final whistle sounded, leaving a relieved Wexford to enjoy their first win in the National League since the Division 3 final of 2008.

They certainly made matters harder than they needed to be at the end, but hopefully a corner is now turned.