Clare stretch perfect run to six, leaving Wexford needing a favour

Clare were already through to the Division 1B final, but Wexford now need help from Carlow

Mark Fanning of Wexford in action against Peter Duggan of Clare during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B match between Clare and Wexford at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis, Clare. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Allianz HL Division 1B: Clare 0-26 Wexford 1-20 

Wexford’s hopes of promotion back to NHL Division 1A were severely dented as hosts Clare completed a clean sweep of six group wins in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis.

In front of a sizeable attendance of 6,575, one unbeaten record had to fall but while the home side were already safely through to the Division 1B Final before a ball was pucked, it was must-win territory for Wexford to join them.

Leading for the last hour of the contest and by as much as eight points in each half, the Banner appeared comfortable for the majority. Inevitably, there would be a kick in the visitors and its source was hardly a surprise either as Wexford's talismanic forward throughout the campaign, Simon Roche, took a pass from Diarmuid O’Leary to fire past NHL debutant goalkeeper Mark Sheedy and halve the arrears to just a goal in the 58th minute.

Influential duo Roche and Lee Chin added quick-fire points to slash the deficit to just the minimum at 0-21 to 1-17 and finally give their supporters something to cheer about entering the final ten minutes.

Clare’s response was emphatic though as braces from Peter Duggan and substitute Ian Galvin aided a five-point unanswered riposte in as many minutes to restore a six-point cushion.

So while Wexford did finish with the last three points, two from free-taker Chin, they never looked like turning the tide that was required to leave their promotion fate within their own hands.

Backed by the conditions, it was only midway through the opening period that Brian Lohan’s side got into their stride. Having been level four times with their Leinster opponents, a six-point blitz without reply finally put clear daylight between the sides at 0-10 to 0-04.

Freetaker Peter Duggan and the ever-impressive Diarmuid Stritch grabbed two each while David Reidy and starting senior debutante Ronan Kilroy also got in on the scoring action by the 25th minute.

By half-time, seven different scorers had helped the hosts to a 0-15 to 0-9 advantage so while Lee Chin and Simon Roche raided for the first two points of the new half for a wind-assisted Wexford, Clare wasted no time in restoring order.

Duggan (2), Jack O’Neill and Sean Rynne stretched the gap to eight by the 50th minute, while a potential clinching goal for home substitute Keith Smyth was defiantly tipped away by goalkeeper Mark Fanning.

The value of that stop was magnified four minutes later when Simon Roche converted an angled shot past Sheedy to finally kickstart Wexford’s comeback bid.

Having matched every challenge in the division despite the use of 35 different players, Brian Lohan’s side never reached for the panic button and duly played their way back into a comfortable position, steered by the experience of Peter Duggan who finished with eight points.

While Clare have a month to prepare for their Division 1B Final, Wexford have to see off Kildare at home in a fortnight’s time and also hope that neighbours Carlow can do them a favour by getting something out of their home tie against Dublin.

Pat Bennett’s side certainly won’t lack motivation as Carlow crave a victory themselves just to avoid the drop to Division 2.

Scorers for Clare: P Duggan 0-8 (7f); D Stritch, J O’Neill, S Rynne 0-3 each; D Reidy, S Meehan, I Galvin 0-2 each; R Kilroy, K Smyth, R Taylor 0-1 each 

Scorers for Wexford: L Chin 0-11 (8f); S Roche 1-6; K Foley, M Fanning (f), C Hearne 0-1 each

CLARE: M Sheedy; R Kilroy, A Hogan, C Leen; C Malone, J Conlon, N O’Farrell; S Rynne, R Taylor; J Kirwan, D Stritch, J O’Neill; D Reidy, P Duggan, S Meehan 

Subs: C Cleary for Malone (19-20, BS), Cleary for Hogan (ht), K Smyth for Stritch (ht), I Galvin for Meehan (55), J Conneally for Conlon (59), D Fitzgerald for Rynne (63) 

WEXFORD: M Fanning; D Carley, C Foley, S Donohue; D Reck, R Lawlor, E Wickham; C Hearne, D O’Leary; D Codd, L Chin, R Banville; T Kinsella, S Roche, K Foley Subs: E O’Leary for Carley (29-30, BS), J Byrne for Codd (ht), R Higgins for Kinsella (ht), C Byrne Dunbar for Banville (40), P Dempsey for Donohue (45, inj), S Rowley for O’Leary (66) 

Referee: L Gordon (Galway)