WEXFORD'S QUEST to make an immediate return to Division 2 of the Allianz Football League suffered an early setback in the Drogheda Gaelic Grounds on Sunday last when they lost their way completely midway through the second-half and went down in a tight battle to long-time leaders Louth. The home side led throughout this competitive encounter despite a hatful of wides before the break, but a window of opportunity opened for their rivals with just over four minutes of normal time left when Paddy Byrne availed of the relaxed rules on challenging the goalkeeper to force a Ciarán Lyng cross to the net after good work by Shane Roche and Redmond Barry.

That score left the minimum between them (0-12 to 18), but midfielder Daithí Waters gave the ball away with a stray pass after claiming a mark before Louth's diminutive corner-forward, Colin Judge, curled over his fourth point of the half from an Andy McDonnell cross for an insurance score.

Wexford's last chance arrived in added time when Ciarán Lyng won a '45 which Ben Brosnan took from close to the sideline, but his effort was well handled by netminder Neil Gallagher and the danger was averted.

Louth's promising O'Byrne Cup form saw them approach this tie with confidence, and from the off they gained a foothold around the middle third of the field as captain Paddy Keenan and late replacement Ronan Carroll lorded it throughout.

They kicked the first three points inside 13 minutes from J.P. Rooney, Andy McDonnell and free-taker Brian White, although a lot of productive work was undone by five wides in that spell from an overall first-half tally of nine.

Ben Brosnan and Pat Naughter (two, one free) missed the target for Wexford before they finally got off the mark in the 15th minute when Adrian Flynn was picked out by Andreas Doyle with a crossfield pass.

Brian White (free) and Ben Brosnan swapped scores, the latter after a one-two with Naughter, and the best goal chance then fell to Wexford even though they were playing second fiddle.

Paddy Byrne's quick free found Collie Byrne who quickly off-loaded to Brosnan, but his effort was brilliantly parried by goalkeeper Neil Gallagher at the expense of a '45.

Still, the near miss gave Wexford renewed hope, and they got to within a point (0-5 to 0-4) by the 29th minute after an Andy McDonnell effort for Louth drew two responses from Redmond Barry and Ben Brosnan (free).

Pat Naughter hit the fourth and final wide of the half from a good position before an exchange of points between Ronan Carroll and Redmond Barry left Louth with an interval lead of 0-6 to 0-5.

A disjointed start to the new half was punctuated by a series of bookings, with three Louth men entering the notebook before Paddy Byrne followed suit.

And after rampant midfielder Carroll widened the gap slightly, Byrne was very unlucky to crash an effort off the crossbar after cutting in along the endline, with Adrian Flynn managing a point in the follow-up.

However, a series of elementary errors then conspired to ruin Wexford's chances, as they were outpointed by five to one between the 48th and 59th minutes.

Possession was given away needlessly, particularly around midfield, while corner-forward Colin Judge shook off Niall Murphy too easily and picked off three points from play, with one booted effort off the ground constituting a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Brian White (free) and Ronan Carroll also contributed, with the sole Wexford response coming from a placed ball by Ciarán Lyng who was the first of the heavy artillery introduced at a stage when Wexford trailed by 0-8 to 0-6.

In contrast to the first-half, Louth struck no wides after the break, while Wexford's three came from Andreas Doyle and Lyng (two). Ben Brosnan also shot tamely into the goalkeeper's grateful arms as the Slaneysiders desperately chased the game, but in truth they would have been lucky to go home with anything to show for their efforts as they only played in fits and starts.

Eric Bradley, Colm Morris and Shane Roche all came into the fray as well, and it took a fine block by the Castletown man to deny Shane Lennon a possible goal with seven minutes left.

A win over Offaly on Sunday next is essential, and changes will have to be made for this to happen.

- ALAN AHERNE