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Wexford's Kevin Foley and John Conlon of Clare Tom O'Hanlon/INPHO

Kelly stars for 14-man Clare as Lohan gets the better of former teammate Fitzgerald

John Conlon was shown a straight red-card for a blow on Kevin Foley in the first half.

Clare 0-18

Wexford 0-15

Ronan Fagan reports from Chadwicks Wexford Park

BRIAN LOHAN SAVOURED a sweet victory over former All-Ireland-winning team-mate Davy Fitzgerald as Tony Kelly delivered 0-12 to edge 14-man Clare to the second-round Allianz NHL Division 1 Group B spoils at a wet and blustery Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday.

Kelly converted seven first-half frees as Clare capitalised on a strong wind to lead 0-12 to 0-4 at the change-of-ends, and although Wexford closed to within 0-15 to 0-14 after 62 minutes, the home-side were left to rue 10 second-half wides.

This was a first inter-county collision between former Clare colleagues turned bitter foes Davy Fitzgerald and Brian Lohan, and unsurprisingly there was no exchange of pleasantries between the pair on the final-whistle.

The trusty long-range striking of Tony Kelly saw Clare seize upon first assistance of the strong wind to surge into a 0-6 to no-score lead within 12 minutes, as Kelly sent over three frees, and Ryan Taylor struck two from play, including going agonisingly close to goaling only for his drive to ping over off the crossbar.

Restricting the damage was clearly high on Wexfordโ€™s list of priorities given the conditions, but captain Jack Oโ€™Connor pegged back three pointed frees between the 14th and 27th minutes (0-6 to 0-3).

Scoring chances dried up for a time during when referee Seรกn Cleere had a couple of incidents to adjudicate, and while Clareโ€™s Eoin Quirke escaped ultimate sanction for an over-robust challenge, that wasnโ€™t the case for Banner captain John Conlon, who was shown a straight red-card for a blow on Kevin Foley in the 29th-minute.

Clare recovered more than satisfactorily as a burst of late scores from Tony Kelly (4 frees) together with David Fitzgerald and Shane Oโ€™Neill powered them clear by 0-12 to 0-4 at half-time.

Wexford looked to benefit from having the wind in their sails on the re-start as they whipped up an early second-half storm with scores from Pรกdraig Foley (free), the Oโ€™Connor brothers, Rory (2) and Jack, together with โ€˜keeper Mark Fanning, who came out-field to get on the end of set-piece, and help shave the difference to 0-12 to 0-9 after eleven minutes.

While a burst of wides hindered Wexfordโ€™s assault, Conor McDonald (2), Paul Morris and Liam ร“g McGovern continued to fuel their fight-back to get them within 0-14 to 0-13 after 58 minutes.

Tony Kelly popped up with lead-preservers for Clare, and as Wexford added four costly closing wides, the Ballyea sharpshooter continued to deliver priceless scores as The Banner pulled through against wasteful hosts.

Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 0-12 (10 frees), David Fitzgerald 0-3, Ryan Taylor 0-2, Shane Oโ€™Donnell 0-1.

Scorers for Wexford: Jack Oโ€™Connor 0-4 (3 frees), Pรกdraig Foley 0-3 (3 frees), Rory Oโ€™Connor, Conor McDonald (0-2 each), Aidan Rochford, Mark Fanning, Paul Morris, Liam ร“g McGovern 0-1 each.

CLARE

1 Donal Touhy (Crusheen)

3 Conor Cleary (St Josephโ€™s Miltown Malbay)
2 Jack Browne (Ballyea)
4 Eoin Quirke (Whitegate)

7 Stephen Oโ€™Halloran (Clarecastle)
6 Pat Oโ€™Connor (Tubber)
5 Aidan McCarthy (Inagh Kilnamona)

8 David McInerney (Tulla)
9 Tony Kelly (Ballyea)

12 David Reidy (ร‰ire ร“g, Ennis)
11 David Fitzgerald (Inagh Kilnamona)
10 Ian Galvin (Clonlara)

13 Ryan Taylor (Clooney Quin)
14 John Conlon (Clonlara, capt.)
15 Shane Oโ€™Donnell (ร‰ire ร“g, Ennis)

Subs:
19 Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge) for Kelly (blood, 26-29); for Reidy (60);
21 Domhnall McMahon (Michael Cusacks) for Galvin (46)
18 Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Taylor (55)
17 Liam Corry (ร‰ire ร“g, Ennis) for Quirke (69)
24 Aaron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Oโ€™Donnell (70+2).

WEXFORD 

1 Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)

4 Joe Oโ€™Connor (St Martinโ€™s)
3 Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
17 Shane Reck (Oylegate Glenbrien)

5 Damien Reck (Oylegate Glenbrien)
7 Pรกdraig Foley (Crossabeg Ballymurn)
6 Shaun Murphy (Oulart The Ballagh)

10 Liam ร“g McGovern (St Anneโ€™s)
8 Kevin Foley (Rapparees)

13 Aidan Rochford (St Anneโ€™s)
11 Rory Oโ€™Connor (St Martinโ€™s)
9 Jack Oโ€™Connor (St Martinโ€™s, capt.)

22 Cathal Dunbar (Naomh ร‰anna)
14 Conor McDonald (Naomh ร‰anna)
15 Paul Morris (Ferns St. Aidanโ€™s)

Subs:
12 Aidan Nolan (HWH Bunclody) for McGovern (61)
21 Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn) for D Reck (64).

Referee: Seรกn Cleere (Kilkenny)

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    Mute Declan Breen
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 5:19 PM

    Tony Kelly was the difference today to be fair to him he was class

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    Mute Kieran Considine
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 5:42 PM

    well done Clare ..hon the banner

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    Mute Gary
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 4:59 PM

    Thatโ€™s Phony Kelly done for the summer

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    Mute Darren Mullins
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 5:02 PM

    @Gary: you said that last week โ€“ good one !

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    Mute Gary
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 5:03 PM

    @Darren Mullins: I didnโ€™t Iโ€™ll have you know
    Must have been someone elseb

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    Mute Gary
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 5:13 PM

    @Bryan: Incorrect heโ€™s a flake and doesnโ€™t turn up when it matters most
    Iโ€™d take Duggan over him every day of the week

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    Mute Eoghan O'Leary
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 5:21 PM

    @Gary: good man Gary ya legend.

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    Mute Johnny B
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 6:20 PM

    In fairness Tony Kelly has gone missing in some big games with county and club over the last few years. In full flight heโ€™s an absolute pleasure to watch. But consistency of performance has become a bit of an issue, especially on big days. And these bigger days tend to be when the opposition deem him worthy of legitimate and appropriate special attention. In other words,he can on occasion be marked out of it.

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    Mute Robb Stark
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 6:39 PM

    @Gary: Heโ€™s a superstar in January, February and March every year.

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    Mute John kane
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 6:39 PM

    @Gary: gowl of a young lad. What did you score today

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    Mute Gary
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 8:05 PM

    @John kane: Imagine calling someone a gowl and then assuming Iโ€™m the young lad

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    Mute John kane
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 8:46 PM

    @Gary: imagine thereโ€™s no gowlsโ€ฆ.itโ€™s easy if you try..

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    Mute Bryan
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    Oct 26th 2020, 4:43 PM

    @Gary: Eat your words ya cl0wn!

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    Mute Jack Hackett
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    Feb 3rd 2020, 10:59 AM

    Well done Clare. Not easy to get a good result in Wexford, even more difficult with 14 men.
    As for Tony Kelly; Are there many other players in the country, Gaelic Football or Hurling included, who have won young player and player of the year in the same year, All-Ireland, league and Munster club honours? I dont think so. So, to all the Trolls, go back under the bridge and wallow in your swamp life.

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