*Cormac Murray misses a goal chance. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A THIRD defeat for Clare leaves the county consigned to Division 3 football for a fourth year running.
Wexford 1-22
Clare 2-17
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
Overpowered by Wexford in the second quarter of the opening half, Clare fell to their third league defeat by a margin of three points but it could have been far greater as their promotion hopes were dashed.
Level three times in the first eighteen minutes, Clare fell apart from here to the half-time whistle when they were outscored 1-14 0-2. Wexford reeled off five two pointers in this spell, they had six in the entire first half and were aided by passive and slack marking from the hosts.
Within the middle third, Brian McNamara was fighting a losing battle as the only Clare player in this sector having any bit of an impact when Wexford laid siege. They found it too easy to kick off scores with Clare passive in their tackling and marking.
In a ninety second spell, Wexford kicked three two pointers alone as Mark Rossiter and Seán Nolan pointed from play either side of Darragh Brooks’ effort from a free.
Making the hill that Clare had to climb much steeper was the concession of a very soft goal on twenty five minutes. Glen Malone was left unmarked before his effort dropped short but was punched by Stephen Ryan straight to Shane Doyle who couldn’t believe his luck that an opportunity to goal was put on a plate for him.
There was to be a fightback from Clare in the second half, they kicked four two pointers via Mark McInerney, Cleary did well to finish to the net on forty two minutes to lift the Clare cause while McInerney converted a penalty on fifty three minutes.
Though they outscored Wexford 2-11 0-4 over the course of the second half, it wasn’t enough to undo the dreadful second quarter. Momentum was stalled for Clare with the referee Christopher Ryan on two occasions following scores seeking assistant from Clare GAA referee administrator Rory Hickey to tape up his earpiece and mic so that he could communicate with his team of officials.
Three points would be as close as Clare could get to Wexford who left Ennis as deserving winners to set up a promotion decider final round versus Westmeath next weekend.
Conditions were tricky for both sides, Wexford had the wind in the opening half and fully utilised it as did Clare on the restart but not to the same extent.
Dermot Coughlan was ruled out of the side on Sunday morning after failing to get the all-clear from the medical team. His loss and that of Darragh Bohannon at midfield were keenly felt while Clare also remain without long-term injuries Emmet McMahon and Colm Walsh O’Loghlen with the forecast brighter for Cillian Rouine’s return. Wexford lost influential centre back Eoghan Nolan to a hamstring injury on twenty seven minutes so their cause was also impacted by injuries.
Missing personnel aside, Clare still had plenty of leaders on the field with Cleary, McInerney and Aaron Griffin driving forward in attack with Ronan Lanigan and Brian McNamara stepping up at different stages of the tie.
Of the three league defeats for Clare, two have been in Cusack Park and adding insult to injury is how poor they performed for the entire Westmeath game and also for the costly twenty minute window in the first half of this Wexford clash.
An attendance of only 965 were in Cusack Park for the tie which is a dreadful home support considering this was a game where promotion was on the line for Clare.
Those that were present would have been scratching their heads as to why Clare made only two substitutes considering they struggled in the middle third and fresh legs could have given fresh impetus to their charge.
For the first time since getting relegated in 2023, Clare’s last round of games in Division 3 will count for little when they head to Sligo next weekend.
Scorers Wexford: M Rossiter, P Hughes, S Nolan 0-5 each (Rossiter 2tp, Hughes 2tp, Nolan 3f); D Brooks 0-4 (2tpf); E Nolan 0-3 (1tp); S Doyle 1-0; E Porter 0-1.
Scorers Clare: M McInerney 1-7 (1-0 pen, 1tpf, 1tp, 1f); E Cleary 1-4 (1tp, 1f); A Griffin 0-3 (1f); C Meaney 0-2 (1tp); B McNamara 0-1.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Wexford:
1: Darragh Brooks (Castletown)
5: Liam O’Connor (St Mary’s Rosslare)
3: Gavin Sheehan (Guesseran O’Reillys)
2: Eoin Porter (Rathgorgue Cushintown)
19: Shane Doyle (Ballyhogue)
6: Eoghan Nolan (Shelmalier)
4: Dylan Furlong (Sarsfields)
8: Liam Coleman (Castletown)
11: Cathal Kehoe (Cloughbawn)
21: Colum Feeney (St Abban’s Adomstown)
10: Pairic Hughes (Kilanerin)
9: Niall Hughes (Kilanerin)
15: Seán Nolan (Horsewood)
14: Mark Rossiter (Gusserane O’Rahillys)
13: Tom Byrne (Kilmore)
Subs:
7: Glen Malone (Shelmalier) for Feeney (22)
12: Jack Higgins (Castletown) for Nolan (27) (inj)
26: Cian Hughes (Kilanernin) for Byrne (48)
25: Robbie Brooks (Castletown) for Furlong (59)
23: Michael Kinsella (Marshalstown-Castledockrell) for Kehoe (63)
Clare
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
6: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
7: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
10: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
24: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
17: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Subs:
12: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon) for Walsh (HT)
18: Jamie Stack (St Breckan’s) for S Griffin (48)
Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway)
