*Cian Galvin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior hurlers are still unbeaten in the 2024 Allianz National Hurling League after they managed to secure a share of the spoils with Wexford.
Clare 0-16
Wexford 1-13
Venue: Chadwick Wexford Park
By Brendan Furlong
Perhaps Jack O’Connor believed he owed his colleagues a response after a dramatic few minutes as the game edged into additional time, with his huge point out of midfield one minute end handing his side a dramatic draw with Clare in an exciting game played in tough conditions.
One minute earlier as the sides were level and struggling for a lead point, O’Connor was deemed to have fouled David Fitzgerald some forty metres from the homeside goal leaving Mark Rodgers to shoot the lead point. With tension and excitement high Wexford surged back for O’Connor to strike a huge levelling point, but the homeside had an opportunity to claim what would have been a dramatic victory, when awarded a difficult seventy metre free which Seamus Casey steered the wrong side of the right post.
From a Wexford perspective this has been a strange league, for from their opening three games they have all fallen in draws, but still leaving with much to play for in their remaining games with Waterford and Cork, while for Clare they stand on four points from three games, leaving manager Brian Lohan quite happy with their campaign to-date.
Clare had first use of the strong wind moving into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside the opening ten minutes through Ian Galvin (free), Aidan McCarthy (free) and two from David Fitzgerald, after Wexford had opened the scoring in the first minute through a Lee Chin point off the sideline.
Clare looked to have had the game’s opening goal after just seven minutes, but Fitzgerald who had stole through the centre of the defence to boot the ball to the net was penalised for over-carrying.
Wexford through fine points from Conor Hearne and Casey mover into a 0-8 to 0-5 lead, before Casey added an additional goal from a penalty after being fouled, to help his side into a 1-6 to 0-8 interval lead, with McCarthy pointed frees keeping the Banner County side in contention.
Wexford resumed in impressive fashion with points from Corey Byrne-Dunbar and Mark Fanning long free, but Clare got back level through Fitzgerald and a McCarthy free.
Wexford had a great goal opportunity on forty-three minutes. Casey picked out Cathal Dunbar with a great ball inside the defence, but keeper Broderick got down to effect a brilliant save, when a goal would have given the homeside a four point advantage.
Substitutes Shane Meehan, Peter Duggan and Mark Rodgers gave Clare a huge boost with excellent pressure points leaving them leading 0-14 to 1-9, but as the tension rose, Wexford regained the initiative, as Casey hit back with a brace, one free, to leave the scoreline 1-12 to 0-14, with three minutes of normal time remaining.
Then came that dramatic finish which sent most in the 4,386 attendance home happy.
Scorers for Clare: David Fitzgerald 0-5, Aidan McCarthy 0-4 (3 frees), Mark Rodgers 0-2 (1 free), Ian Galvin, Patrick Crotty, Robin Mounsey, Shane Meehan, Peter Duggan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Seamus Casey 1-4 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), Lee Chin 0-3 (1 free), Conor Hearne, Cathal Dunbar, Corey Byrne-Dunbar, Mark Fanning (free), Jack Doran, Jack O’Connor 0-1 each
Wexford:
1. Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)
4. Niall Murphy (Ferns St Aidan’s),
3. Conor Foley (Horeswood),
7 Eoin Ryan (St. Anne’s)
2. Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
6. Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
5. Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers)
8. Conor Hearne (Shelmaliers)
15. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
12. Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna)
14. Seamus Casey (Oylegate Glenbrien)
10. James Byrne (Askamore)
13. Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers)
11. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers, capt)
9. Corey Byrne-Dunbar (Ferns St Aidan’s)
Substitutes:
19. Jack Doran (Naomh Eanna) for K. Foley, inj. (9);
24. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s) for Chin, inj. (26)
17. Cian Byrne (Fethard) for J. Byrne (55)
18. Tomás Kinsella (Askamore) for Doran (64).
Clare:
1. Cian Broderick (Clarecastle)
4. Adam Hogan (Feakle)
17. Conor Leen (Corofin)
2. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones Shannon)
7. Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones Shannon)
6. John Conlon (Clonlara)
5. Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
8. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
9. Seán Rynne (Inagh Kilnamona)
10. David Fitzgerald (Inagh Kilnamona)
11. Robin Mounsey (Ruan)
12. Patrick Crotty (Scariff)
15. Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
14. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh Kilnamona)
22. Keith Smyth (Killanena)
Substitutes:
13. Mark Rodgers (Scariff) for Mounsey (HT);
23. Peter Duggan (Clooney Quin) for Crotty (HT);
26. Shane Meehan (Banner) for I. Galvin (50);
19. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe) for Leen (58);
20. Gearóid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe) for McCarthy (68)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
