Patrick O'Connor refusing to sweat over first Clare three-in-a-row of defeats in seven years

Having fielded largely callow teams against Kilkenny and Galway, the return of John Conlon, Mark Rodgers, and David Fitzgerald, plus a first start of 2025 for Tony Kelly, meant the team that faced Wexford contained nine starters from last year’s All-Ireland final

Tony Kelly of Clare signs autographs after the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Clare and Wexford at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. 

No panic or concern in Banner country. Not yet anyway. Despite a first three-in-a-row of defeats in seven years, former Clare corner-back Patrick O’Connor has said there is no need to get anxious about their All-Ireland title defence.

A six-point defeat at home to struggling Wexford last Sunday leaves the reigning League champions winless and pointless after three rounds of fare. This unwelcome sequence of reverses also serves to bridge a seven-year gap to the last occasion a Clare hurling team suffered three consecutive defeats in the same season.