Wexford Youths opened the scoring after only three minutes when a long free-kick from the half-way line was drifted into the Dundalk penalty area, the Dundalk defence failed to clear the ball and Wexford striker, Danny Furlong was on hand to power his first time shot to the bottom right of Donal Greene’s goal.

Mick Wallace’s side almost doubled their advantage after 19 minutes when Keith Kearney whipped in an inviting corner from the right and Gareth Wallace’s header drifted just to the right of Greene’s post.

Dundalk FC enjoyed large periods of sustained pressure throughout the first-half but they failed to create any clear-cut chances against a very strong, well-marshaled Wexford defence.

The second half started with the same high intensity as the first and it was the home side who were quickest out of the blocks; the ever-dangerous Kevin Rowe made a darting run through the Dundalk defence and with just two defenders to beat he laid the ball off for Furlong who blasted it past Greene in Dundalk’s goal from 25 yards out with just three minutes gone in the second half.

As Dundalk pressed forward in search of goals, Mick Wallace’s side duly punished their guests after 65 minutes with their 3rd goal. Kevin Rowe made a cutting run through Dundalk’s defence and as the oncoming keeper advanced to challenge Rowe, he slipped it into the path of Danny Furlong who slid the ball home to claim his hat-trick under pressure from defender, Barry McKenna.

Danny Furlong scored his fourth goal of the game after 80 minutes when Shane Dempsey whipped in a free-kick from the left wing and Furlong rose unchallenged in the area and he powered his header past Greene in the Dundalk net.

Subs; Dwayne Somers, Paul Dempsey, Gareth McCurtin, William Doyle , Ricky Dwyer, Shane Bradley, David Kennedy

Dundalk FC; Donal Greene, Barry McKenna, Stephen Hutchinson, Adrien Rafferty, Shane Greene, Gerard Connolly, Gary Clarke, Conor Gorman, Billy Smith, Barry Woods, Sean Conlon