This competition has extra significance for the winners as the trophy is named in honour of Paul McGirr, who tragically lost his life back in 1997 due to an accidental clash in a match between Tyrone Minors and their counterparts from Armagh.
It was perhaps no surprise then that they came out all guns blazing in this match played at their impressive Centre of Excellence at Garvaghey.
The home side led by 1-5 to nil after the opening quarter and, in fact, it was the 20th minute before Wexford got on the scoreboard at all, thanks to a pointed free from Odhrán Morris.
Their hosts replied with just one more in the closing stages of the opening half, to lead by 1-6 to 0-1 at the break.
If that was a mountain to climb for the Wexford side, it became an Everest just two minutes into the second period.
Tyrone’s Michael Mullan went on a driving run through the Wexford defence before laying the ball across goal, and their impressive full-forward Darragh Devlin rose highest to fist the ball to the net.
Tyrone found themselves reduced to 14 just a minute later though, as one of their players saw red for a punch on Tom Funge.
There followed a mini purple patch for Wexford as they reeled off three points in a row, through Odhrán Morris (free), Abram O’Neill, and then Morris from play.
That made it 2-6 to 0-4 after 38 minutes, and Wexford seemed to be gaining momentum.
The home side quickly killed it off again though, and they had six further points on the board before Darragh Forde shot Wexford’s fifth point on 50 minutes.
Straight from the kick-out, Tyrone worked the ball up the field, and the move culminated in substitute Mark Kennedy bagging their third goal when he got a vital touch after an initial shot from a team-mate came back off the crossbar.
Tom Funge pulled a point back for Wexford but then Tyrone shot four more, leaving it 3-16 to 0-6 after 58 minutes, and making the already long road home seem even longer.
Funge did manage a goal for Wexford as the 60-minute mark approached, drilling home a powerful low shot.
Thoughts of at least finishing on a high were also quickly killed off though, as Tyrone substitute Mark Kennedy nabbed his second goal in injury time, to wrap up a convincing victory for the dominant home team.
Wexford: Adam Furlong (St. Patrick’s); Kian Steadmond (Ballynastragh Gaels), Liam Kenny (Castletown), Seán Fitzharris (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown); Max Beary (Shelmaliers), Rory Cooper (Ballynastragh Gaels), Alex Carton (St. Patrick’s); Fionn Kavanagh (Castletown), James Rothwell (HWH-Bunclody); Abram O’Neill (Monageer-Boolavogue, 0-1), Odhrán Morris (Castletown, 0-3, 2 frees), Jamie Hughes (Ballynastragh Gaels); Darragh Forde (Ballynastragh Gaels, 0-1), Tom Funge (Naomh Éanna, capt., 1-1), Ian Noctor (Castletown). Subs. – Conall Butler (Kilrush) for Rothwell (HT), Andrew Kelly (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown) for Steadmond (44), Mitch Cullen (Gusserane) for Cooper (45), Cathal Power (Duffry Rovers) for Noctor (51), Liam Cooney (Monager-Boolavogue) for Hughes (51), also Aaron Cunniffe (Monageer-Boolavogue), Andy Byrne (Oylegate-Glenbrien), Ben Furlong (Ballynastragh Gaels), Dylan Hayes (Bannow-Ballymitty).
Tyrone: Ronan Donnelly; Michael Mullan, Pádraig Goodman, Eoghan Conway; Seán Corry (0-1), Aodhán Quinn (0-1), Thomas Meenan; Pádraig Donaghy, James Mulgrew; Darren McAnespie, Peter Colton, Jamie Concannon; Peter McGoldrick (0-6 frees), Darragh Devlin (1-3), Eoin Long (1-3). Subs. – Michael McNamee for Conway (22), James Daly for Corry (48), Mark Kennedy (2-0) for Concannon (48).
Referee: Eoin Murphy (Fermanagh).
