Wexford Park witnessed a second joyous pitch invasion in three days as Wexford recorded a stunning 2-16 to 2-11 victory over Down.

On Thursday night, the Model County defeated Meath in the Leinster JFC final; tonight was even better as second-half goals from the Rossiter brothers Tiernan and Naomhan propelled their first team to a famous win.

Wexford will be in Division Four next year while Down will be in Division One - but that counts for nothing tonight (if, in fact, the league ever does!) as it's the Leinster county who progress to the second round of the back-door series.

David Power's men were magnificent in the first half and deservedly took a 0-9 to 1-4 advantage into the break. Indeed, their lead could have been greater had they taken one of the three presentable goal chances they created during those opening 35(+5) minutes.

In a very exciting and open start to the match, six points were shared inside the opening 13 minutes. Ciaran Lyng and Donal O'Hare traded frees before Mark Poland fisted the Mourne County ahead. Back came the Model men with a Ben Brosnan brace - a simple free followed by a point from play - before Poland instantly tied the scores up for the third time at the end of a flowing move from back to front.

The hosts had missed a couple of goalscoring chances in the first quarter - including an Adrian Flynn effort that hit the woodwork - so they were left frustrated when Jim McCorry's men got in for a simple three-pointer, which was finished to the net by Jerome Johnston - 1-3 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.

Flynn was black-carded before the determined Slaneysiders drew level with a Lyng brace (one free) either side of an excellent Michael O'Regan dummy-and-finish. But Conor Laverty hoisted over a superb score under pressure to restore the border county's advantage, only for Graeme Molloy to level the scores for the fifth time.

Kieran Butler edged the home team back in front and five minutes of injury time were added at the end of the first half due to an injury to Wexford goalkeeper Shane Roche, who had to be replaced by Anthony Masterson. With the last action before the short whistle, Tiernan Rossiter doubled the hosts' advantage with a nice point after Kevin O'Grady's goal attempt had been saved.

The Model County kicked on upon the resumption with a run of three consecutive points, Kevin O'Grady pointing from play after two frees flew between the sticks - 0-12 to 1-4. Devlin (free) and Caolan Mooney pulled back scores for the visitors before O'Regan and Johnston swapped points. Brosnan's point gave the boisterous home support more to shout about as their team led by 0-14 to 1-7 with 20 minutes to go.

O'Hare's free had the northerners within touching distance by the 58th minute, 0-15 to 1-10, but the Rossiter brothers ensured the Model County of an advantage that they were not going to surrender as both Tiernan and Naomhan found the net to propel the winners into an unassailable eight-point lead, 2-15 to 1-10.

Substitute Niall Madine netted for the away team nine minutes from the end and a converted O'Hare free left four between the sides with five minutes left to play. Twice the kitchen sink flew wide of the Wexford goal as Down mounted a desperate late rally; the dismissal of Garvey for an off-the-ball offence rubbed salt in the visitors' wounds.

Lyng clipped over the last point as Wexford deservedly took their place in the hat / bowl for Monday morning's second-round Qualifier draw.

Wexford - S Roche; R Tierney, N Rossiter (1-0), J Wadding; S Donohoe, G Molloy (0-1), A Flynn; S Byrne, B Malone; T Rossiter (1-1), B Brosnan (0-3, 1f), K Butler (0-1); C Lyng (0-6, 5f), M O'Regan (0-3), K O'Grady (0-1). Subs: E Nolan for A Flynn (BC), A Masterson for S Roche, J Breen for N Rossiter, J Tubritt for K Butler, P Byrne for M O'Regan.

Down - S Kane; D O'Hagan, L Howard, D Turley; B McArdle, K McKernan, R Boyle; P Fitzpatrick, C Mooney (0-2); P Devlin (0-2f), M Poland (0-2), C Maginn; D O'Hare (0-2f), C Laverty (0-2), J Johnston (1-1). Subs: R Johnston for C Maginn, P Downey for P Fitzpatrick, A McConville for D O'Hare, N Madine (1-0) for K McKernan.

Referee - C Reilly.

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