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War of attrition against familiar foes


All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 Qualifier
Clare v Wexford @ Semple Stadium Thurles, Saturday 1.30pm (Fergal Horgan, Tipperary)

WHETHER Monday’s eerie draw of a third winner-takes-all showdown in just four seasons is serendipitous or calamitous will only be known on Saturday evening as Clare look to maintain their championship Indian sign over Wexford for what would be a unique hat-trick.
All because of the inextricable rivalry that began for the large bulk of players at Under 21 level and has subsequently coincided with Davy Fitzgerald’s reign as Wexford senior manager.
In the 2018 Quarter-Final, ten scorers helped Clare to reach Croke Park for the first time since 2013 after a 0-27 to 1-17 victory over Wexford in Páirc Uí Chaoimh while last November in Portlaoise, a Tony Kelly masterclass of 1-15 aided Brian Lohan’s side’s passage to the last six following a 1-21 to 0-17 win.
Davy Fitzgerald is unlikely to allow Clare’s 2020 All-Star free rein again on Saturday but having failed to curb his influence in their meetings so far, Kelly’s positioning from a Clare perspective and Wexford’s tactical countering will be another intriguing factor of this all-too familiar pairing.
In the continued absence of Shane O’Donnell, Clare will require others to step up on the scoring front if they are to repeat the dose on Wexford who have their own marquee attacking forces in Lee Chin, Rory O’Connor as well as Conor McDonald who missed their most recent competitive clash in Cusack Park in mid-May.
That match can be largely overlooked due to a number of unusual factors including Lee Chin’s profligacy from placed balls, a dead leg for Tony Kelly in the opening period that forced his early retirement and the ultimate game changer of a late home dismissal that saw Wexford use their numerical advantage to the full to complete a dramatic nine point turnaround at 2-19 to 1-21.
What can be extracted from that early encounter is the sides are very evenly-matched and realistically whichever way the pendulum swings on Saturday won’t be seen as any major surprise.
Wexford did defy their critics in a compelling seesaw extra-time semi-final against Kilkenny who felt that perhaps the energy of 2019 had evaporated as did Clare who brushed aside the challenge of favourites Waterford in their provincial opener.
The sense of injustice Clare felt following James Owens’ bizarre penalty call against Tipperary is also matched by Wexford’s disappointment of not capitalising on their sin bin advantage in extra-time against Kilkenny so both won’t be lacking in the motivational department either.
With a point to prove on both sides of the divide and their championship lives on the line, expect their tightest duel to date on Saturday in what promises to be an unmissable war of attrition.
Clare will leave it as late as possible to finalise their line up for Saturday, Lohan told The Champion this week.
“There are a couple of injuries there. Shane (O’Donnell) is still recovering, obviously Pat O’Connor is out for the season, there are a couple of niggling injuries, we’ll delay as long as we can on naming our panel and go from there.”
O’Donnell is a major loss to the Banner, having been one of the county’s most potent forwards for several years.
Lohan said the main focus is on his recovery, and he is unsure as to whether the Éire Óg man could feature for Clare at some point this summer, if they progress on Saturday.
“He’s making a bit of progress alright, but whether he’d be in a position to play at some stage this year we don’t know yet.”
Saturday is set to be one of the warmest days of the year to date, and Lohan acknowledged that the heat could play a role.
“It obviously is a factor. The whole area of nutrition and hydration becomes very important. Our nutritionist who is with us, she’s aware of that and conscious of it. We’re all looking at the weather forecast, it’s going to be a punishing day, we just have to see how we adapt to it.”
In May Wexford’s league victory over Clare was overshadowed by the controversy that followed as two Clare players were identified as close contacts of Covid cases on the Wexford team.
However on Wednesday Lohan said it is not something that will have any impact on Clare’s approach to Saturday – “No, it hasn’t even been mentioned.”

by Eoin Brennan
Additional reporting
Owen Ryan

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