CLARE are still searching for their first points of the new National Hurling League campaign, writes Eoin Brennan, after going down 2-20 to 1-20 against Wexford in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.
For the second consecutive season, Wexford left Ennis with a valuable victory under their belts to leave the hosts pointless after two matches.
Leading by 1-16 to 1-14 following a strong third quarter turnaround, Clare lost their way down the final straight as a resurgent Wexford fired 1-5 without reply including a 64th minute goal for Diarmuid O’Keefe. Emanating from a defensive error, it would be the clinching score in front of an attendance of 2,855.
Mark Rodgers again led the way on the scoreboard, mainly through placed balls and was aided by strong displays from midfielder Paddy Donnellan, Shane Meehan and impressive newcomer Patrick Crotty from the bench.
Three Rodgers frees lifted the hosts to a 0-4 to 0-2 advantage by the tenth minute but despite a strong wind at their backs, Evelyn first half wides would come back to haunt them. Without a score for the next 16 minutes, Clare would duly be overtaken by the Leinster side led by Rory O’Connor who grabbed 1-1 of a 1-4 blitz to soar 1-6 to 0-4 in front.
Clare did stop the rot in spectacular fashion when Shane Meehan scored a rebound equalising goal after two John Conlon attempts were foiled. However, goalkeeper Mark Fanning would pull off a superb save to deny Meehan a second goal as instead Wexford went into the dressing rooms 1-9 to 1-7 ahead with the wind to come.
Roles were reversed in the new half as Clare found scores easier to come by while Wexford found the wind challenging amidst ten second half misses.
John Conlon, Paddy Donnellan, Patrick Crotty and Rodgers all chipped in with scores as Clare wrestled back control to carve out a two point cushion by the 54th minute.
Unfortunately, the Banner wouldn’t score again until the 68th minute, by which time Wexford had blazed unassailably clear following a 1-5 purple patch. Clare kept chipping away with four of the last five points but without a goal, their hopes inexorably faded as Wexford, off the back of an opening victory over Limerick seven days previously, maintained their perfect start.
Clare have a break next weekend before resuming away to Offaly in a fortnight’s time.
Wexford: Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown); Simon Donohue (Shelmaliers), Liam Ryan (Rapparees), Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien); Connal Flood (Cloughbawn), Matthew
O’Hanlon (St James’), Paudie Foley (Crossabeg/Ballymurn); Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Anne’s), Liam Óg McGovern (St Anne’s); Oisin Foley (Crossabeg/Ballymurn), Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s), Charlie McGuckin (Naomh Eanna); Rory O’Connor (St Martin’s), Mike Dwyer (St Mogue’s Fethard), Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna) Subs: Cathal Dunbar for O. Foley (50), Niall Murphy fort Ryan (61), Paul Morris for McGuckin (63), Shane Reck for McGovern (68). Scorers: Jack O’Connor (0-9, 6f, 1’65); Rory O’Connor (1-4); Diarmuid O’Keeffe (1-0); Damien Reck, Conor McDonald (0-2 each) Mike Dwyer, Connal Flood, Paudie Foley (0-1 each)
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones), Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), Jack Browne (Ballyea), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona); Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona), Paddy Donnellan (Broadford); Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge) (Captain), John Conlon (Clonlara), Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin); Shane Meehan (Banner), Domhnall McMahon (Michael Cusack’s), Mark Rodgers (Scariff). Subs: Patrick Crotty for McMahon (HT), Robin Mounsey for Taylor (67), Shane Golden for McCarthy (67), Aron Shanagher for Conlon (69). Scorers: Mark Rodgers (0-12, 10f, 1’65); Paddy Donnellan (0-3); Shane Meehan (1-0); John Conlon, Patrick Crotty (0-2 each); Robin Mounsey (0-1)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)