WEXFORD EASED into their National Camogie League Division 1 campaign with a comfortable victory - as their defence kept a second-half shut-out - against Dublin in Monamolin on Sunday last.

As much as J.J. Doyle would later deny it, this was very much an experimental line-out for Wexford. Áine Codd played pretty well at centre-forward, grabbing a trio of very well-taken scores, Ciara Storey, who was a big loss to the Intermediate side against Down, followed up her pre-Christmas Leinster final appearance with another at full-forward but again struggled to make a significant impact.

Also moving up were Karen Atkinson, an admirable performer at corner-back, Shelley Kehoe, who was unspectacular but efficient at wing-back, and Fiona Kavanagh who hit her stride as the game wore on.

Following Oulart-The Ballagh's county success, Una Leacy took the role as captain for the season and it was her crossfield pass that sent Lenny Holohan away for the opening score, a calmly-taken goal by the diminutive but feisty right corner-forward, to give Wexford the perfect start.

Caroline Murphy, Mary Leacy (free) and Áine Codd all added points in the opening ten minutes as the home side, playing against the breeze, edged five ahead (1-3 to 0-1).

With Dublin duo Ciara Lucey and Alison Maguire doing their best to keep their side in touch, the visitors closed the deficit to three points as the opening quarter ended, but they would only add one more score, a Sherry Mannion minor in the 25th minute, as Wexford took control.

The Metropolitans are sure to be disappointed with the showing. Earlier in the week the management team had made it clear in a national newspaper that they believed they were comparable to the upper echelon teams like Wexford, Galway, Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny, but there was no sign of that parity in this showing.

They continued to fall further behind, despite the advantage of the elements, as Codd and Holohan added their second scores and Una Leacy notched a brace of frees. The fine first-half efforts left Wexford in a comfortable position at the break, leading by five (1-7 to 0-5).

Barring one Lucey free which Mags D'Arcy saved with her leg, and the scramble that ensued, Wexford were untroubled in the second-half. The result was put beyond doubt with a flying start to the period.

Holohan picked off two fantastic points down the right wing, while Fiona Kavanagh, Una Leacy and substitute Kate Kelly all contributed to a spell of five overs in four minutes.

The frantic rate of scoring slowed but the swarm of attacks didn't, and Leacy added her fourth point. Áine Codd fizzed a shot just the wrong side of the crossbar midway through the half but the second goal soon came, as Leacy picked up a breaking ball and stayed composed under pressure before slotting past a hapless Stephanie Carthy.

Wexford continued to play at a high tempo, particularly in defence, which resulted in Ciara Storey grabbing her solitary point. Kavanagh finished off the rout with two welltaken scores although she may be more comfortable at full-forward, a position which may suit her strengths best.

All in all it proved to be a comfortable victory for new manager J.J. Doyle, probably easier than expected, and with the likes of Katrina Parrock and Ursula Jacob to come back into the side, a second league triumph is a distinct possibility.

Wexford's next game is against Galway on Saturday in St. Patrick's Park, and this will most likely determine who wins the group, although a loss would not spell the end for either as league semi-finals have been re-introduced for Division 1 this season.

- DEAN GOODISON