Late Jack O'Connor score earns Wexford dramatic draw against Clare
REDEMPTION: Jack O'Connor of Wexford in action against Clare players Seán Rynne, left, and Cian Galvin. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Perphaps Jack O'Connor believed he owed his colleagues a response after a dramatic few minutes as the game edged into additional time, with his huge point out of midfield one minute end handing his side a dramatic draw with Clare in this exciting Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 Group A game played in tough conditions at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
One minute earlier as the sides were level and struggling for a lead point, O'Connor was deemed to have fouled David Fitzgwerald some 40 metres from the homeside's goal leaving Mark Rogers to shoot the lead point. With tension and excitement high, Wexford surged back for O'Connor to strike a huge levelling point, but the homeside had an opportunity to claim what would have been a dramatic victory, when awarded a difficult 70 metre free which Seamus Casey steered the wrong side of the right post.
From a Wexford perspective this has been a strange league, for from their opening three games they have all ended in draws, but still leaving with much to play for in their remaining games with Waterford and Cork, while for Clare they stand on four points from three games, leaving manager Brian Lohan quite happy with their campaign to-date.
Lohan summed it up accurately "Quite happy with the draw," said Lohan.
"Our first half was poor, we were outfought more than anything else, while Wexford won every breaking ball, leaving us with much to do.
"We were up against the elements in the second half, but played much better. Our substitutes made an impact."
Lohan also expressed that he was delighted with the performance of keeper Cian Broderick.
"He made a tremendous save from Cathal Dunbar at a crucial juncture of the second half. He has been playing well all year and deserved his chance. Very happy with his performance overall.
"We had a lot of players back. We had one bad weekend, maybe ten players down through Fitzgibbon Cup. Perhaps that's a good thing to have them playing Fitzgibbon while it also gave squad members an opportunity.
"It was difficult day, but conditions were not all that bad. Maybe both teams did not go at it as well as they could. We cannot blame conditions for they were not all that bad. We will take the point but I don't know if Wexford will be happy."
Naturally Keith Rossiter would have liked to have taken that extra point.
"I don't know if it's a point lost or a point gained," said the Wexford manager.
"We were playing against a very good Clare team so to take a point, in hindsight I would have to be happy. It's strange, but now we have three draws from our games, but it still keeps us very much in contention for a top three finish."
Rossiter reflected on two further injuries to strike his side.
"We lost Kevin Foley early in the first half, inside the opening minutes. He moved back inside but was unable to run the injury off. It's a knee but it's too early to know the extent of the injury.
"Then we lost Lee (Chin) after twenty-seven minutes. Lee knows his body. He felt a muscle problem and decided to come off. It's only February so there was no point in risking them further.
"Credit to the lads they stood up after the loss of two experienced players. They showed great character, played some fine hurling in difficult conditions. Perhaps we could have won it in the end, but we'll take the point."
Clare had first use of the strong wind moving into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside the opening ten minutes through Ian Galvin (free), Aidan McCarthy (free) and two from David Fitzgerald, after Wexford had opened the scoring in the first minute through a Lee Chin point off the sideline.
Clare looked to have had the games opening goal after just seven minutes, but Fitzgerald who had stolen through the centre of the defence to boot the ball to the net was penalised for over-carrying.
Wexford, through fine points from Conor Hearne and Casey, mover into a 0-8 to 0-5 lead, before Casey added an additional goal from a penalty after being fouled, to help his side into a 1-6 to 0-8 interval lead, with McCarthy pointed frees keeping the Banner County side in contention.
Wexford resumed in impressive fashion with points from Corey Byrne-Dunbar and a Mark Fanning long free, but Clare got back level through Fitzgerald and a McCarthy free.
Wexford had a great goal opportunity on 43 minutes. Casey picked out Cathal Dunbar with a great ball inside the defence, but keeper Broderick got down to effect a brilliant save, when a goal would have given the homeside a four point advantage.
Substitutes Shane Meehan, Peter Duggan and Mark Rogers gave Clare a huge boost with excellent pressure points leaving them leading 0-14 to 1-9, but as the tension rose, Wexford regained the initiative, as Casey hit back with a brace, one free, to leave the scoreline 1-12 to 0-14, with three minutes of normal time remaining.
Then came that dramatic finish which sent most in the 4,386 attendance happy.
M Fanning (0-1 free); N Murphy, C Foley, E Ryan; S Reck, D Reck, S Donohoe; C Hearne (0-1), K Foey; C Dunbar (0-1), S Casey (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees), J Byrne; R Lawlor, L Chin (0-3, 0-1 free), C Byrne-Dunbar (0-1). Subs: J Doran (0-1) for K Foley (inj. 10); J O'Connor (0-1) for Chin (inj. 26); C Byrne for J Byrne (55); T Kinsella for Doran (64).
C Broderick; A Hogan, C Leen, R Hayes; D Lohan, J Conlon, C Galvin; C Malone, S Rynne; D Fitzgerald (0-5), R Mounsey (0-2), P Crotty (0-1); I Galvin (0-1), A McCarthy (0-3, 0-2 frees), K Smyth. Subs: M Rogers (0-2, 0-1 free) for Mounsey (ht); P Duggan (0-1) for Crotty (hot); S Meehan (0-1) for I Galvin (50), D Ryan for Leen (58); G Sheedy for McCarthy (68).
T Walsh (Waterford).
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