Wolves midfielder Segundo Castillo brings the ball forward in this attack.

The superior class of Wolves eventually told against Wexford Youths last night as Kevin Doyle was welcomed home.

Although the Irish international was only introduced for the final 22 minutes of the game – set up as part of Doyle’s transfer deal which brought him to Molineux in the summer – it was enough to warm up the large crowd on a chilly night at Ferrycarrig Park.

But it was fellow Irish international Andy Keogh who stole the show, scoring a sublime winning goal with 12 minutes remaining to make it 2-1, neatly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Packie Holden to finally break Wexford’s resistance.

Mick McCarthy understandably fielded a mixed side – with one eye on Saturday’s showdown with Arsenal –  but there was still plenty of quality on show with Keogh, Serbian star Nenad Milijas and in particular Michael Mancienne catching the eye.

The first-half was a pretty forgettable affair with little in the way of chances and in fact it was Wexford Youths who had the clearest sight of goal, when right-back Anton Russell shot straight at goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann after a neat one-two with the impressive Gary Sheahan.

Wolves came out with a bit more urgency after the break and were in front  within five minutes of the restart, with giant Austrian striker Stefan Maierhofer sweeping the ball home after Milijas’ superb cross.

The biggest cheer of the night came in the 68th minute when Doyle was introduced but his introduction spurred on the Youths who were level, two minutes later.

In-form striker Sheahan cut in from the right and expertly placed his angled shot inside Hahnemann’s right hand post. Ten minutes later, Wolves sealed the game through Keogh’s cool finish but, at the other end, Conor Sinnott was unlucky to see his long-range left-footed curler come back off the bar.

Wolves: Hahnemann, Malone, Stearman, Mancienne, Halford, Jarvis, Castillo, Surman, Milijas, Keogh, Maierhofer.

Subs: Hemmings (Milijas 60); Doyle (Maierhofer 68), Henry (Castillo 68); Elokobi (Malone 68), Zubar (Hemmings 85).

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).

Attendance: 2,718.