THE MINIMUM expected from the Wexford Under-21 footballers before Saturday's Leinster championship first round tie in St. Brigid's Park, Dowdallshill, was that they would be a lot more competitive than in 2009.

On that occasion, Kildare had cruised to a 0-17 to 0-4 win in Bunclody, but it was even worse this time around as a team without purpose or passion was hammered into submission by a rampant Louth side in this total mis-match.

The portents weren't very promising in the lead-up to the game, with Wexford finishing fourth from four teams in a tournament organised by Carlow County Board, and then failing to win the inter-District tournament despite having prepared a lot better than any of their rivals.

And even though the team contained a number of individuals who would be considered no more than average club players when announced mid-week, it was still hoped that the big occasion would bring out the best in them.

Instead it was another embarrassing day for the purple and gold as heads dropped all over the field once Louth struck for their first goal in the sixth minute.

Prior to that Wexford had shown brief signs of promise, with Conor Carty sending over a free from a tight angle after a push on the team's best player, Kevin O'Grady, while big midfielder Andrew Shore followed up with a neat effort from play.

However, Wexford's world started to collapse from the moment a flick on by Jim McEneaney was gathered at pace by speedy wing-forward Derek Maguire who raced through and placed the ball beyond netminder Myles Roche for a 1-0 to 0-2 lead.

Kevin O'Grady did manage an equaliser in the tenth minute, but Louth outscored their weak rivals by 1-9 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half, and the game was all but over by the interval when they led by 2-9 to 0-4.

Constant fouling played into their hands, with needless instances of pushing and jersey-tugging punished by three different free-takers - Jim McEneaney and James Califf with their right legs off the ground, and Kevin Rogers with his left from the hand.

By the finish, five of the six starting Wexford backs as well as one defensive substitute and centre-forward Michael O'Regan had picked up yellow cards, and none of them could be the cause of contention.

Once Louth got on top, the visitors fed off scraps, although Conor Carty will be disappointed to have sent a couple of frees off target which looked easier than the one he scored which was a fine effort. Wing-back and captain, Paudie Kelly, kicked the other two wides from a first-half tally of four, the second an attempted pass.

Louth hit an unanswered 1-9 between the eleventh and 30th minutes before Kelly ended a long barren spell in added time, but the damage was well and truly done by then.

Their second goal came just before that Wexford score when a long punt was won by full-forward Páraic Smith who out-foxed Christy Lane in the air, and Myles Roche hadn't a hope of saving his shot.

The gap should have been reduced just 33 seconds into the new half when Seán Gaul found himself all alone inside the defence, but he kicked wide when it seemed easier to score a goal.

By the time Kevin O'Grady scored the next Wexford point in the 43rd minute, they had conceded a further 12, with the goal coming from a penalty by Jim McEneaney after a foul on Páraic Smith which earned André O'Brien a booking.

Seven minutes later he repeated the dose, only this time finding the opposite corner from the spot after a footblock by P.J. Carroll.

It was painful to watch, and there can be no excuses for such insipid performances two years on the trot, particularly after coming so close to winning the Leinster title under the previous management in 2008.

One could never question the commitment of mentors Paul Carty, Syl Doyle, Brendan Kehoe and Eamonn Moulds, but clearly a different approach is needed.

Speaking of Carty, it was sad to see his name not mentioned on the programme, while he was forced to watch the game from behind the perimeter wall - another victim of the G.A.A's latest crackdown on paid employees managing teams. Would they prefer if he trained a soccer or rugby side when he clocks off each evening?

- ALAN AHERNE