Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U-20 hurling championship semi-final

TIPPERARY 8-16 WEXFORD 1-15

By Paul Keane at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

Rampant Tipperary struck hard and early at Nowlan Park, burying Wexford with a four-goal first-half blast to secure their place in the Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U-20 final in style.

The Munster champions - winners of the All-Ireland title last year when played at the U-21 grade - hit the ground running in front of 4,543 at the Kilkenny venue and opened up a 12-point lead by the 26th minute.

It was virtually all over at that early stage for Wexford who were powerless to prevent Andrew Ormond, 2, Billy Seymour and Jake Morris all netting for Tipp.

It means that Wexford have now bowed out of the minor, U-20 and senior championships at the semi-final stage.

But for Tipp the potential for a dream U-20/senior double to match their U-21/senior win of 2010 - when Liam Sheedy was also in charge of the seniors - remains alive.

Morris, whose late goal won the Munster final for Tipp, is part of both setups and was a key figure for Liam Cahill's side who added four more goals in the second-half.

Nenagh attacker Morris finished up with 1-5 and will be a marked man when Tipp play Cork in the August 24 decider in what will be a repeat of last year's final, played at the U-21 grade, and the last two Munster finals.

Cork will have a thirst for revenge but this is a talented Tipp side that will be difficult to overcome with seniors Jerome Cahill, who struck two of the second-half goals, and Paddy Cadell also influential at the Kilkenny venue.

Sean Keane Carroll struck Wexford's only goal in the 27th minute but the Leinster finalists still trailed by 4-6 to 1-7 at the break.

Tipp piled on the misery with Cahill swooping for 32nd and 43rd minute goals. Remarkably, there was still room for two more majors with sub Sean Hayes cracking home the seventh and Seymour wrapping up the rout with a 56th minute goal.

As if to underline Tipp's dominance and the breath of their panel, subs Hayes, Joe Fogarty and Darragh Woods contributed 1-4 between them as they pushed hard for places in the final team later this month.

Tipperary scorers: Jake Morris 1-5 (0-1f), Andrew Ormond 2-1, Billy Seymour 2-1, Jerome Cahill 2-1, Sean Hayes 1-1, Conor Bowe 0-2, Darragh Woods 0-2 (0-1f), Joe Fogarty 0-1, Bryan O'Mara 0-1, Johnny Ryan 0-1.

Wexford scorers: Ross Banville 0-8 (0-8f), Sean Keane Carroll 1-0, Sean O'Connor 0-2, Diarmuid Doyle 0-2, Niall Murphy 0-1, Conall Clancy 0-1,Chris Turner 0-1.

TIPPERARY: Aaron Browne; Craig Morgan, Eoghan Connolly, Conor McCarthy; Niall Heffernan, Paddy Cadell, Bryan O'Mara; Ciaran Connolly, Johnny Ryan; Conor Bowe, Jerome Cahill, Gearoid O'Connor; Jake Morris, Billy Seymour, Andrew Ormond.

Subs: Sean Hayes for O'Connor 30, Kian O'Kelly for Ormond (41), Joe Fogarty for Morris (45), Darragh Woods for Cahill (49), Michael Purcell for McCarthy (51).

WEXFORD: James Lawlor; Eoin O'Leary, Eoin Molloy, Cathal O'Connor; Niall Murphy, Mike Kelly, Conor Scallan; Eoin Murphy, Jack Reck; Cian Fitzhenry, Charlie McGuckin, Conall Clancy; Sean Keane Carroll, Sean O'Connor, Ross Banville.

Subs: Chris Turner for Keane Carroll (h/t), Diarmuid Doyle for Sean O'Connor (41), Ben Maddock for Murphy (51), Ger Dempsey for Reck (53), James Byrne for Banville (58).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).