Séamus Casey of Wexford, left, celebrates with teammate Damien Reck after scoring their side's fist goal during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Clare and Wexford at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
WEXFORD 1-23 CLARE 1-17
By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park
14 man Wexford spoiled the home party when deservedly edging a pivotal relegation showdown with holders Clare in front of 4,641 in Cusack Park, Ennis.
With neither side recording a National League victory to date, it was a must-win tie that initially looked to be swaying towards a more recognisable Banner but, as the tie unfolded, it was Wexford that dominated matters to finally get off the mark for 2025.
Victory doesn’t guarantee anything for Keith Rossiter’s side but it was still an important first step as they outscored their weary hosts by 1-18 to 0-11 in the final 50 minutes.
Tony Kelly, who returned to the starting line up for the first time since July’s All-Ireland decider alongside John Conlon, David Fitzgerald and Mark Rodgers, didn’t take long to make his mark as Clare’s record five time All-Star found the net inside 90 seconds of the throw-in.
Stemming from a quick puck-out from Eibhear Quilligan that Rory Hayes launched, David Reidy released Mark Rodgers to bear down on goal before offloading to Kelly to finish. Raiding for 1-4 in the first half, the Ballyea star would be Clare’s only forward to score from play in the opening period as Wexford slowly got to grips with their hosts.
Led by the inspirational Lee Chin, who was also making his competitive bow for 2025, a brace of Cian Byrne frees would sandwich points for Cathal Dunbar and Chin to finally level the tie by the 23th minute at 1-6 to 0-9.
A wind-assisted Wexford also finished the half with a four point blitz as Kevin Foley, Seamus Casey, Chin and Byrne cemented a 0-15 to 1-09 interval lead.
Aidan McCarthy’s frees did eat into that cushion on the resumption but despite reducing the arrears to the minimum, the defending champions simply couldn’t equalise and would be duly punished when Seamus Casey’s persistence yielded a Wexford goal at the three-quarters mark.
Only minutes earlier, Rory Hayes had denied Kevin Foley with a superb block and he would do likewise to Casey in the 51st minute, only for the Oylegate-Glenbrien poacher to make no mistake with the rebound at 1-17 to 1-13.
It would prove a detrimental sucker-punch for a flagging Clare who even had a numerical advantage for the final eight minutes after Cian Byrne caught marker Darragh Lohan in a rebound attempt after goalkeeper Quilligan had saved his point blank effort and received his marching orders.
Tony Kelly had a last gasp 20 metre free saved but even if it was converted, it would have been merely a consolation score as Wexford completed their third consecutive league win in Ennis.
Scorers for Wexford: Cian Byrne 0-9 (6f, 2’65); Seamus Casey 1-3; Lee Chin 0-5 (2f); Richie Lawlor, Cathal Dunbar 0-2 each; Jack Redmond, Kevin Foley 0-1 each
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-8 (7f, 1’65); Tony Kelly 1-4; Ryan Taylor, Ian Macnamara, Patrick Crotty, David Reidy, Robin Mounsey 0-1 each
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Conor Foley, Simon Donohue, Eoin Ryan; Richie Lawlor, Damien Reck, Charlie McGuckin; Conor Hearne, Cathal Dunbar; Jack O’Connor, Jack Redmond, Lee Chin; Kevin Foley, Cian Byrne, Seamus Casey
Subs: Simon Roche for Redmond (51), Shane Reck for Roche (68), Tomás Kinsella for Casey (74)
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Darragh Lohan, Ian Macnamara; Cian Galvin, John Conlon, Adam Hogan; Cathal Malone, Ryan Taylor; David Fitzgerald, Mark Rodgers, Patrick Crotty; Tony Kelly, Aidan McCarthy, David Reidy
Subs: Ross Hayes for Conlon (40), Paddy Donnellan for Malone (45), Robin Mounsey for Fitzgerald (56), Aron Shanagher for Rodgers (62), Conor Leen for Lohan (67, inj)
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
