*Jack O’Neill gets away from Damien Reck. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE CAPPED off their group phase of Division 1B Allianz National Hurling League with their one hundred percent winning record fully intact.
Clare 0-26
Wexford 1-20
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosog, Ennis
Every test that has come Clare’s way in the league has been passed with flying colours. Granted the standard of opposition is not tier but Brian Lohan’s side are going about their business in an impressive manner.
Level four times inside the first quarter, Clare were a level above their Wexford counterparts throughout the course of the game and put themselves in a comfortable position with an eight point lead by the forty sixth minute.
Within a fourteen minute spell in the second half, Wexford outscored Clare 1-5 0-2 to make it a one point game entering the final ten.
Showing their strength, Clare finished the game very strongly with five more points added and the result leaves supporters confident with how matters are going at this early stage of the year.
With a plethora of scorers and strong showings, there’s certainly more players putting their hand up for selection. Division 1B brings with it the health warning that it is harder to judge just how well personnel are faring, considering the quality of opposition but in defence and attack when it comes to depth Clare are in a stronger position than twelve months ago.
Six changes were made to the Clare team from that which overcame Carlow a fortnight ago, Mark Sheedy was in for his NHL debut between the posts and acquitted himself well, he made a save from Lee Chin in stoppage time when a major could have forced a draw while the Sixmilebridge netminder was composed any time he was in possession.
Both Diarmuid Stritch and Adam Hogan were withdrawn at half time, the duo had done well in the opening half and the decision to take them off was primarily precautionary. Hogan in his second appearance of the league was solid at full-back, chipping in with turnovers and even had an assist for Stritch’s third point. The Clonlara man has been one of the standout performers for Clare in Division 1B and will certainly be in the shake-up for a spot in the championship side.
Seán Rynne at midfield didn’t do his cause any harm in what has been a difficult weekend for his family following the passing of his grandfather. Ronan Kilroy for a hurler only adjusting to the new role of corner back hasn’t been out of place and likewise Niall O’Farrell at wing back.
It was Clare’s first time beating Wexford in Cusack Park in the Allianz National Hurling League under Brian Lohan. The Shannon man hasn’t lost to the Model County in the championship and has beaten them twice in the league in Wexford Park but Sunday’s three point victory was their first time overcoming them in Ennis since February 2019 when a goal was also the final margin.
Both counties were relegated from the top tier last season and have met in the league for nine seasons running. The record over this time from February 2018 to March 2026 is four wins for Clare, four wins for Wexford and one draw, dating back to their February 2024 showdown in Wexford Park.
With Wexford needing to win to keep promotion hopes alive and tee up another potential league clash with Clare but a first final since 2010, a strong test was expected from Keith Rossiter’s side. There was an element of not being let hurl to their potential by a well-functioning Clare but they also lacked intensity, particularly in the second quarter where over the course of twelve minutes they were outscored 0-6 0-1.
Working the ball well and moving even better off the shoulder allowed Clare to take control of the game. When they found gaps, they exploited them and Stritch at centre forward was a specific example of this, most notably his second point on twenty one minutes when he spotted an opening and tore through it after Jack Kirwan did well to win back possession.
Turnovers at one end from the Clare defence often resulted in scores in attack, John Conlon winning back possession to help create Rynne’s first point of the day while it was a Conor Leen shoulder that led to Ryan Taylor and Hogan combining to tee up Stritch later on.
For the winners, the standout players were Niall O’Farrell, Diarmuid Stritch and Seán Rynne with John Conlon, Jack O’Neill and Peter Duggan also impressing. Ian Galvin and Keith Smyth both looked lively when added to Clare’s attack boosting the options of danger men.
Scorers Clare: P Duggan (0-8 7f), J O’Neill (0-3), S Rynne (0-3), D Stritch (0-3), D Reidy (0-2), S Meehan (0-2), I Galvin (0-2), R Kilroy (0-1), K Smyth (0-1), R Taylor (0-1).
Scorers Wexford: S Roche (1-6), L Chin (0-11 7f). K Foley (0-1), M Fanning (0-1 1f), C Hearne (0-1)
Photographs by Gerard O’Neill & Ruth Griffin.
Clare:
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
3: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
4: Conor Leen (Corofin)
5: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
17: John Conlon (Clonlara)
7: Niall O’Farrell (Broadford)
9: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
8: Seán Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona)
10: Jack Kirwan (Parteen/Meelick)
11: Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara)
12: Jack O’Neill (Clooney/Quin)
15: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
14: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin)
13: Shane Meehan (Banner)
Subs:
20: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Hogan (HT)
22: Keith Smyth (Killanena) for Stritch (HT)
19: Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Meehan (55)
26: John Conneally (Clooney/Quin) for Conlon (58)
18: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Rynne (63)
Wexford:
1: Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)
2: Darragh Carley (Glynn-Barntown)
4: Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers)
3: Conor Foley (Horsewood)
5: Damien Reck (Glynn-Barntown)
6: Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers)
7: Eamon Wickham (Rathnure St Anne’s)
19: Diarmuid O’Leary (St Martin’s)
8: Conor Hearne (Shelmaliers)
10: Darren Codd (St Martin’s)
12: Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
13: Ross Banville (Shelmaliers)
11: Simon Roche (Oulart the Ballagh)
14: Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
15: Tomás Kinsella (Askamore)
Subs:
23: James Byrne (Askamore) for Codd (HT)
26: Rory Higgins (Rathnure St Anne’s) for Kinsella (HT)
21: Corey Byrne (Ferns St Aidan’s) for Banville (39)
17: Philip Dempsey (St Martin’s) for Donohoe (45)
25: Sean Rowley (Oylegate-Glenbrien) for O’Leary (66)
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
