Clare 2-25
Wexford 2-25
(Clare 1-21 Wexford 2-18 at full time)
CLARE LIVE TO fight another day but the All-Ireland champions were given a massive scare by Wexford in a thrilling SHC round 1 qualifier in Cusack Park.
The Banner looked dead and buried when they trailed by four points with two minutes remaining in normal time.
But substitute Séadna Morey smashed in the rebound when Tony Kelly’s late penalty was saved, and then Conor Ryan pointed a last-gasp equaliser to save their summer.
Man of the match Conor McGrath then looked to have struck a decisive blow with a goal early in extra time, but Wexford never relented and Paul Morris found the final score to force a replay.
It was no more than Liam Dunne’s side deserved. They raced out of the blocks against a static Clare and led by 10 points inside 16 minutes thanks to goals from Conor McDonald and the impressive Liam Óg McGovern.
Clare keeper Pa Kelly, back in the starting XV in place of Donal Tuohy, should have done better with McDonald’s shot which beat him at his near post in the ninth minute but was helpless when McGovern — who finished with 1-4, all from play — skinned his marker and kept his shot low.
Wexford were their own worst enemy in that first half, and a mixture of wasteful shooting and indiscipline gifted Clare their lifeline. Colin Ryan pointed five frees in that first half, leaving the gap at just five points at the break, 2-9 to 0-10.
Clare’s comeback suffered a serious setback when Podge Collins was shown a straight red card in first-half stoppage time for pulling David Redmond’s face guard.
By the letter of the new rules, referee Cathal McAllister had no other option. The All-Star forward was visibly upset, consoled by team-mate Shane O’Donnell in the dugout.
And when the action resumed, it was Wexford who stretched further in front thanks to points from substitute Jack Guiney and Andrew Shore.
Among a cast of strong performers, Shore in particular stood out with what was one of his most influential Championship performances to date.
Wexford couldn’t press on though, and as the wides racked up, Clare chipped away at their lead and were back within two points as the game entered its final 15 minutes.
A fine stick save by Pa Kelly denied O’Keeffe what would have been the winning goal and kept Clare in the hunt.
But when McAllister awarded a controversial penalty with two minutes to play, the All-Ireland champions looked down and out. McGovern went to ground but the replays showed that there was no contact from Brendan Bugler, who in fact got his hurl across to flick the ball cleanly away.
After a moment’s consideration, Morris pointed the free instead of going for goal, putting the gap at four and leaving Clare in need of a goal of their own with time fast running out.
That chance came seconds later when sub Darach Honan did some Trojan work and played in McGrath who was dragged to ground in front of goal.
You would have put your house on Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly converting but his shot was blocked on the line. Morey was the first to react, bundling the ball home through the crowd, and when Conor Ryan pointed the game looked set for extra time.
Both sides still had chances to win it though and had Honan or Garrett Sinnott shown a little bit more composure at either end, the end of the tale would have had a sharp sting.
With Clare back to their full complement of 15 in extra time, McGrath left Matthew O’Hanlon for dead and slotted his shot past Mark Fanning. After more than 74 minutes of action, it was the first time in the entire game that they led.
Having come this far Wexford were undeterred and a Paul Morris free and then a fine score from dual star Lee Chin brought the sides level again.
Clare did manage to go two points in front again but the gap was never bigger and although McGrath looked to have won it with a point in the final minute, Morris had the final say to force the replay.
Scorers for Clare: Colin Ryan 0-12 (9f), Conor McGrath 1-5, Tony Kelly 0-4, Seadna Morey 1-0, Cathal McInerney 0-2, Cian Dillon, Conor Ryan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Paul Morris 0-10 (6f), Liam Óg McGovern 1-4, Conor McDonald 1-1, Lee Chin 0-3, Andrew Shore, Eoin Moore (1f), David Redmond, Rory Jacob, Jack Guiney, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Ian Byrne 0-1 each.
Clare
1. Patrick Kelly
2. Cian Dillon
3. David McInerney
4. Jack Browne
5. Brendan Bugler
6. Conor Ryan
7. Pat O’Connor
8. Colm Galvin
9. Pat Donnellan
10. John Conlon
11. Tony Kelly
12 Colin Ryan
13. Podge Collins
14. Conor McGrath
15. Cathal McInerney
Substitutes: Peter Duggan for Donnellan (50), Darach Honan for Conlon (56), Seadna Morey for Galvin (65), Shane Golden for Morey (FT), Morey for McInerney (81), Paul Flanagan for O’Connor (87).
Wexford
1. Mark Fanning
2. Liam Ryan
3. Matthew O’Hanlon
4. Keith Rossiter
5. Eoin Moore
6. Lee Chin
7. Ciaran Kenny
8. David Redmond
9. Harry Kehoe
23. Andrew Shore
11. Podge Doran
12. Liam Óg McGovern
13. Paul Morris
14. Conor McDonald
15. Rory Jacob
Substitutions: Jack Guiney for Jacob (30), Garrett Sinnott for Kehoe (HT), Diarmuid O’Keeffe for Redmond (45), PJ Nolan for Doran (47), Richie Kehoe for Shore (63), Ian Byrne for McDonald (FT), Jacob for Sinnott (83), Conor Devitt for Chin (87).
What a game…feel Wexford have left it behind them
A very, very relieved Clare man this evening. Massive respect to Wexford, they were never going to come to Ennis for a summer picnic and after the 17 wides and 3 clear chances they missed, they will definitely feel they left it behind them. I’m frightened to death of us having to take them on again in their own backyard. So far, we haven’t looked the same dazzling bunch of hurlers we were last year. Plenty of resolves and glimpses of quality, but they’re leaving a lot to he desired. Great match. Phew.
Clare should be very afraid having to come back down to Wexford Park… Great to see Wexford back to competing with the best of them!
Dont care what the experts say wexford are on the way back and hurling needs it
Any truth to Davy Fitz having to be restrained after having a go at a reporter?
I wouldn’t be surprised, he’s a petulant child half the time!
Read this just now: http://balls.ie/gaa/reports-davy-fitzgerald-involved-in-altercation-after-clare-game/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter
We have a mountain to climb to retain Liam. And I do wish Davy would shit his hole and get on with training and coaching his players. Whether you like him or not, we can all agree that’s what he is good at.
All said and done fair play to Wexford, seriously promising young team. However, Clare played badly, with 14 men, and they still came back and chiseled away at it. Lesser champions may have folded.
Deja vu,
And look what happened last year,
Clare won the All-Ireland..
Today was the kick in the arse that Clare needed..
A great advertisment for the best game in the world…
Clare looked like a team burnt-out from over training, I cannot think of another explanation such a lack of physical and mental energy. Unfortunately our season looks over,
Won all Ireland September 28, 1 week later county hurlin championship until November, Cartloe footballers Munster final, winning the 21s as well, Waterford crystal in jan, league, Fitzgibbon cup, 21s and championship again no wonder they are flat.
They’ve been going a long time alright but there were more problems today than fatigue. It looks like teams have figured out how to use the sweeper to disrupt what was the best attacking strategy in the country last year, The system is in need of a tweak, if it weren’t for McGrath being in the form of his life the forwards would be lost
Kilkenny never won an A.I Paul ? Great teams build and dominate. Clare have struggled. This team promised so much but are stuttering around. I’ll be told next Kilkenny have no county championship. Pipe down with the excuses. They’re either good enough or not. Hate to think fellas have won an A.I and thought thats me done then.
It’s not an excuse, no team can be compared to Kilkenny and winning all the all Ireland’s in so many years is just remarkable how they can keep coming back year after year.
Hold on Paul. Always read your comments and generally your spot on. But this comment is ridiculous on the evidence that kilkenny have being the kings of hurling for 10 years with the same nucleus of a team and you think that we’re burned out after 1 season… We have no midfield and no aerial ball winning forwards so It is a mystery how we remained in the game today… As I said recently you can’t win a game win you consistently get trounced in the middle third of the park. Three games on the trot isn’t a blip it’s a crisis… Last year we had Lady Luck with us but the funny thing about luck is that it goes around and we used all ours last year. Back to punching above our weight again methinks… We will win in Wexford tho…. Why?? Coz we can. Hon the banner
Pure burnt out from drinking and riding I’d say since last sept
Will podge Collins be suspended for replay?
Straight red card would automatically get 4 week suspension. Appeal unlikely to get a reduced sentence as linsman and camera clearly picked up incident
I didn’t see any of the game but I presume that the ref rode Clare as usual
Is that you with your conspiracy theories Davy?
Was the opposite. He did everything to win it for them. He alone kept them in the first half
When and where is the replay?
2pm next Saturday in Wexford Park
That won’t be confirmed until Monday.
I hope the 47,000 residents around Wexford park dont object.
5pm
I know it’s early in the championship but I think Clare are a team that gave all last year and have nothing to give this year. Cork disposed of them with ease and as seen today they never really showed up. A lot of them seem to have just settled for the one medal and the t shirt that says ” Flash in the Pan”.
Flash in the pan or not but 1 medal is better than 0 medals
And that is the same attitude that the Clare players have!!
Oh we have one now see you again in another 15 years.
See ye again in another 15 years??? Yeah next Saturday in Wexford park lols
So, should be 2029 before we see Clare again… Flash in the Pan!!
Need to get rid of Davy.
During the week Anthony Daly eluded to the fact that Wexford would be a hard team to beat…it was like a warning to Clare players to watch out!hopefully they’ll do it 2nd time round!This all Ireland is wide open this year..you have Cork with a team seeking an all Ireland they could have won last year…Kilkenny wanting more however not with the choice of players they’d like…Tipp always posing as a danger and don’t forget Dublin…they might not have the hurling experience but you never know!looking like a great championship!
A 20% improvement in winning our own puckouts coupled with better decision making in distributing ball and sharper first touch, that would have been more than enough to see Off Cork and Wexford.
This team doesn’t become bad overnight they have still the most potent full forward line in the country.
Next weekend will see a new Clare team that will see off Wexfords challenge with greater ease.
Winning back to back all Irelands is unreal hard to do …, that’s why what Kilkenny did is so remarkable !!!! Clare looked so lethargic it was beyond belief !!!