*Cian Galvin is tackled by Cathal Dunbar. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A THIRD successive loss in the Allianz National Hurling League has Clare’s senior hurlers at real risk of relegation.
Wexford 1-23
Clare 1-17
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Wexford’s first league win of 2025 coincided as Clare’s third defeat in as many outings leaving the All-Ireland and league champions edging closer to Division 1B of the Allianz National Hurling League.
For the third game in a row, Clare produced a very strong opening quarter but worryingly faded as the match wore on, a trend that will have to be rectified in advance of the April 20th championship opener at home to Cork.
Tony Kelly, John Conlon, Mark Rodgers, David Fitzgerald and Rory Hayes all made their first starts of the 2025 league for Clare as Brian Lohan’s side slowly edge towards full-strength. Kelly excelled in the opening half, hitting 1-4, a sublime over the shoulder score from the sideline among the highlights.
However his involvement in the game lessened with no supply of ball hit to the Ballyea danger man in the second half. To try tackle this, management swapped him from his role at full-forward to centre forward but to no avail.
Kelly’s goal on ninety five seconds was the first score of the contest, Mark Rodgers doing well to win a break from a puckout before finding the Clare captain. The hosts led by five points on seven minutes but Wexford managed to get on level terms on the twenty third and twenty seventh minute.
Keith Rossiter’s Wexford charges hit the final four scores of the opening half to hold a 0-15 1-9 lead at the interval.
There was no kick in Clare in the second half, Ian Macnamara may have hit the first score on the restart but it was one of only four points from play in the second half from the men in saffron and blue.
Seamus Casey’s green flag on forty five minute was a real blow, it evaporated any remainder of a challenge from Clare who worringly lacked a spirit which has been a key component of their displays during Lohan’s tenure.
Wexford even finished with fourteen men as Cian Byrne was shown a straight red card after striking full-back Darragh Lohan. It was immaterial to the result as Wexford emerged deserving winners.
More worryingly than losing all league games so far for Clare is the lack of non-established players putting their hand up for selection when it comes to championship. Apart from wing-back Cian Galvin, there are few of the ‘fringe’ players doing enough to warrant consideration from Lohan and his management or enough to unsettle the returning experienced Clare players. Kelly was very lively in the first half while others to do well in patches were Rory Hayes, Adam Hogan and Mark Rodgers.
Lee Chin, Seamus Casey and Cian Byrne were lively for the winners who also had solid displays from Richie Lawlor, Damien Reck and Cathal Dunbar.
Scorers Wexford: C Byrne (0-9 6f 2’65), S Casey (1-3), L Chin (0-5 2f), R Lawlor (0-2), C Dunbar (0-2), J Redmond (0-1), K Foley (0-1)
Scorers Clare: A McCarthy (0-8 7f 1’65), T Kelly (1-4), R Taylor (0-1), I Macnamara (0-1), P Crotty (0-1), D Reidy (0-1), R Mounsey (0-1)
Wexford:
1: Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)
4: Conor Foley (Horsewood)
2: Eoin Ryan (St Anne’s)
3: Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers)
5: Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers)
6: Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
7: Charlie McGuckin (Naomh Éanna)
8: Conor Hearne (Shelmaliers)
9: Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Éanna)
11: Jack Redmond (Rathnure St Anne’s)
24: Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
10: Jack O’Connor (St Martins)
15: Seamus Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
14: Cian Byrne (St Mogue’s Fethard)
13: Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
Subs:
17: Simon Roche (Oulart the Ballagh) for Redmond (51)
25: Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien) for Roche (67)
19: Tomás Kinsella (Askamore) for Casey (74)
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
4: Ian Macnamara (Killanena)
3: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
2: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
7: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
5: Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
8: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
9: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
10: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
11: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
12: Patrick Crotty (Scariff)
13: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
14: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
15: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs:
21: Ross Hayes (Crusheen) for Conlon (40)
17: Paddy Donnellan (Broadford) for Malone (45)
25: Robin Mounsey (Ruan) for Fitzgerald (55)
19: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Rodgers (62)
22: Conor Leen (Corofin) for Lohan (66)
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
