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 Wexfordโs list of priorities given the conditions, but captain Jack OโConnor 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 Clareโs Eoin Quirke escaped ultimate sanction for an over-robust challenge, that wasnโt 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 OโNeill 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 OโConnor brothers, Rory (2) and Jack, together with โkeeper 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 Wexfordโs assault, Conor McDonald (2), Paul Morris and Liam รg 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 OโDonnell 0-1.
Scorers for Wexford: Jack OโConnor 0-4 (3 frees), Pรกdraig Foley 0-3 (3 frees), Rory OโConnor, Conor McDonald (0-2 each), Aidan Rochford, Mark Fanning, Paul Morris, Liam รg McGovern 0-1 each.
CLARE
1 Donal Touhy (Crusheen)
3 Conor Cleary (St Josephโs Miltown Malbay)
2 Jack Browne (Ballyea)
4 Eoin Quirke (Whitegate)
7 Stephen OโHalloran (Clarecastle)
6 Pat OโConnor (Tubber)
5 Aidan McCarthy (Inagh Kilnamona)
8 David McInerney (Tulla)
9 Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
12 David Reidy (รire รg, Ennis)
11 David Fitzgerald (Inagh Kilnamona)
10 Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
13 Ryan Taylor (Clooney Quin)
14 John Conlon (Clonlara, capt.)
15 Shane OโDonnell (รire รg, 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 (รire รg, Ennis) for Quirke (69)
24 Aaron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for OโDonnell (70+2).
WEXFORD
1 Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)
4 Joe OโConnor (St Martinโs)
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 รg McGovern (St Anneโs)
8 Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
13 Aidan Rochford (St Anneโs)
11 Rory OโConnor (St Martinโs)
9 Jack OโConnor (St Martinโs, capt.)
22 Cathal Dunbar (Naomh รanna)
14 Conor McDonald (Naomh รanna)
15 Paul Morris (Ferns St. Aidanโs)
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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Tony Kelly was the difference today to be fair to him he was class
well done Clare ..hon the banner
Thatโs Phony Kelly done for the summer
@Gary: you said that last week โ good one !
@Darren Mullins: I didnโt Iโll have you know
Must have been someone elseb
@Bryan: Incorrect heโs a flake and doesnโt turn up when it matters most
Iโd take Duggan over him every day of the week
@Gary: good man Gary ya legend.
In fairness Tony Kelly has gone missing in some big games with county and club over the last few years. In full flight heโs 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.
@Gary: Heโs a superstar in January, February and March every year.
@Gary: gowl of a young lad. What did you score today
@John kane: Imagine calling someone a gowl and then assuming Iโm the young lad
@Gary: imagine thereโs no gowlsโฆ.itโs easy if you try..
@Gary: Eat your words ya cl0wn!
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.