Clare’s powers of recovery overwhelm Wexford to set up All-Ireland semi-final place

A third All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny awaits them on July 6 after again showing their powers of recovery in a quarter-final to bounce back from a third Munster final loss to Limerick.

Shane O’Donnell was back to his irresistible best, producing 1-3 of his 1-4 total in the second half. Tony Kelly helped himself to six points, five from play, and is growing with each outing after his ankle setback.

Wexford’s challenge was blunted by the red carding of Rory O’Connor for a second bookable offence later into the second half. O’Connor had been electric up to that point but it was largely a self-inflicted wound even if the first yellow in the opening seconds was on the soft side.

In front of 30,509 attendance in FBD Semple Stadium, Wexford were coping up to the 43rd minute when Diarmuid Ryan returned Mark Fanning’s clearance to O’Donnell. His power was too much for Matthew O’Hanlon who fouled him but O’Donnell availed of the advantage to beat the Wexford goalkeeper.

Clare’s second goal, to put them six up like the first, came just over 10 minutes later. John Conlon sent the ball up the line and Ian Galvin turned Eoin Ryan before rocketing it low and true.

Wexford didn’t score from the 54th to the first minute of additional time as they chased goals but Éibhear Quillgan was level to Richie Lawlor and Lee Chin efforts. In taking off the likes of David Fitzgerald and John Conlon, Brian Lohan was able to think ahead before the final whistle.

After his second-half heroics for Wolfe Tones against Clarecastle last weekend, Aron Shanagher was drafted in to start for Aidan McCarthy. A fifth-minute point settled the inside forward in a comfortable start for the Munster runners-up as they put up four points before Wexford registered their first.

Before him, David Reidy, another change from the team that started the defeat to Limerick, had also made his mark as Clare were showing no indication of a hangover from their provincial pursuits.

Toggling between the half-forward and full-forward lines, O’Donnell was much more prominent and Conlon was more comfortable having been returned to centre-back.

For Wexford, Chin’s influence was being kept in check by Conor Cleary although O’Connor was emitting sparks. He sent over Wexford’s first score in the sixth minute having had a goal chance blocked out by Adam Hogan.

A weak attempt at a green flag followed from Conor McDonald two minutes later. A series of frees brought them within a score of Clare only for The Banner to send over five of the next five points, two of them from Tony Kelly.

Wexford’s purple patch involved three points on the bounce prior to Hogan’s stray pass across the field from a puck-out being intercepted by O’Connor and David McInerney forced to foul him.

It didn’t appear like one of the prescribed fouls but referee Johnny Murphy issued a black to McInerney and awarded the penalty following consultation with his umpires. Chin dispatched the ball to the net and Wexford were one behind.

A Conor Foley point brought them level only for O’Connor to add to his first minute booking with a second for a late hit on Reidy. Whatever about the first foul, the second merited a yellow card.

Mark Rodgers pistoled over the resultant free and Kelly provided two of the next three points to give Clare a two-point cushion at half-time, 0-15 to 1-10. Wexford’s pain was only delayed.

Scorers for Clare: S. O’Donnell (1-4); M. Rodgers (frees), T. Kelly (1 free) (0-6 each); I. Galvin (1-1); D. Reidy (0-3); D. Fitzgerald, D. Ryan (0-2 each); C. Leen, A. Shanagher, S. Meehan, A. McCarthy (65) (0-1 each).

Scorers for Wexford: L. Chin (1-6, 1-0 pen, 5 frees); C. Foley (0-3, 1 sideline); R. O’Connor, C. Byrne (0-2 each); M. Fanning (free), C. Hearne, C. McDonald, C. Dunbar, K. Foley, S. Casey (0-1 each).

CLARE: E. Quilligan; A. Hogan, C. Cleary, C. Leen; D. Ryan, J. Conlon, D. McInerney; T. Kelly (c), C. Malone; D. Fitzgerald, M. Rodgers, P. Duggan; S. O’Donnell, A. Shanagher, D. Reidy.

Subs for Clare: I. Galvin for P. Duggan (46); P. Crotty for D. Fitzgerald (57); C. Galvin for J. Conlon (59); S. Meehan for A. Shanagher (61); A. McCarthy for M. Rodgers (67).

WEXFORD: M. Fanning; S. Reck, M. O’Hanlon, E. Ryan; C. Foley, D. Reck, S. Donohoe; C. Hearne, L. McGovern; R. O’Connor, R. Lawlor, C. McGuckin; C. Byrne, L. Chin (c), C. McDonald.

Subs for Wexford: C. Dunbar for L. McGovern (44); K. Foley for C. McGuckin (46); C. Byrne-Dunbar for C. Byrne (56); D. Carley for R. Lawlor, S. Casey for C. McDonald (68).

Sent off: R. O’Connor (32, second yellow).

Referee: J. Murphy (Limerick)