Clare produce stunning comeback to beat Wexford in pulsating quarter-final

A storming finish from Clare has seen them into an All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny as they turned a six-point deficit on its head to see off Wexford.

Having struggled to reclaim their Munster Championship form for much of the afternoon on the back of their deflating provincial final defeat to Limerick, Brian Lohan’s side recovered from two quick-fire second half goals to reach their first semi-final since 2018.

Key to the turnaround was the introduction of Aron Shanagher and Shane Meehan entering the last 10 minutes, with the pair contributing 1-4 between them.

The result sets up a last four clash with Kilkenny on July 3, the first time that the counties will have met in the Championship since 2006, which was also a semi-final and was won by Kilkenny as they embarked on their four-in-a-row run.

With an exodus of Cork followers after their defeat to Galway, there was a certain flatness to the occasion, far removed from the pitch of the recent Munster final, and Clare were rocked on their heels right from the off as Jack O’Connor burst through for a goal following a fine catch after just 24 seconds.

Clare’s sleepy start continued with Tony Kelly hitting three wides from frees before he notched one from play. Kelly handed placed ball duties to Peter Duggan but he too missed his first effort as the Banner struggled to settle.

Both sides were upset early on by the loss of key men as Banner defender Rory Hayes, fresh from his suspension reprieve in midweek, was whipped off by Lohan after making an uninspiring start, while key Wexford forward Rory O’Connor followed him in the 14th minute due to injury.

Oisin Foley’s second point put Wexford four clear by the ninth minute but Clare enjoyed their best spell with four points on the trot through David Reidy, Duggan (two frees) and Diarmuid Ryan to draw level but they couldn’t get ahead as Wexford pushed on again.

A point from Ian Galvin and Duggan’s third free ensured that the sides ended the half on level terms at 0-10 to 1-7 but Clare upped it on the restart.

After David Reidy put them in front for the first time, Ryan pushed up to good effect with two points and the momentum of the game seemed to be shifting in their favour until Wexford hit them for two goals.

The first was wholly avoidable as Mark Fanning’s long range free evaded everybody and deceived Eibhear Quilligan as it bounced in front of him and into the net to restore Wexford’s lead in the 47th minute.

There was a seemingly critical six-point swing three minutes later as Ian Galvin saw a goal effort crash off the crossbar, only for Wexford to work the ball out and Simon Donohoe’s delivery found Lee Chin, who made no mistake to net their third goal.

When Mikie Dwyer put them six clear in the 59th minute there didn’t appear to be a way back for Clare but Shanagher pointed with his first touch when introduced after an error from Diarmuid O’Keeffe, starting a run of five without reply to reduce the deficit to the minimum.

Clare went back in front when a long range Kelly free fell just short of Fanning’s crossbar but the ‘keeper fumbled and as Wexford tried to clear their lines, Shanagher swept the loose ball to the net.

There was only going to be one result from there as Wexford’s challenge petered out badly, with Clare outscoring them by 1-9 to 0-2 from the 60th minute to the finish.

CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan (0-3), John Conlon, David McInerney; Cathal Malone (0-1), Ryan Taylor; David Fitzgerald (0-1), Shane O’Donnell (0-2), Peter Duggan (0-5f); David Reidy (0-2), Ian Galvin (0-2), Tony Kelly (0-4).

Subs: Cian Nolan for Hayes (8), Mark Rodgers for Reidy (54), Aron Shanagher (1-2) for Fitzgerald (59), Shane Meehan (0-2) for Galvin (62).

WEXFORD: Mark Fanning (1-0f); Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Simon Donohoe; Matthew O’Hanlon, Damien Reck (0-1), Paudie Foley; Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-1), Liam Og McGovern; Jack O’Connor (1-0), Rory O’Connor (0-1), Oisin Foley (0-2); Conor McDonald, Lee Chin (1-8, 0-6f), Conor Devitt.

Subs: Mikie Dwyer (0-1) for Rory O’Connor (14), Kevin Foley for O’Keeffe (62), Connal Flood for McGovern (63), Charlie McGuckin for Shane Reck (68), Paul Morris for Damien Reck (68).

REFEREE: Colm Lyons (Cork).