Time for Clare to produce the goods again

However this ends, Wexford can't go back now. For so long, the distance between where they are and where they want to be seemed so thoroughly unbridgeable as to drain any bit of lifeforce from the county. Two Leinster under-21 titles on the bounce changes that.

Ordinarily, the next step would be to get out of the second tier of league hurling next spring but here they are now with a chance to take the lift instead of the stairs. Nothing will invigorate Wexford hurling like a win tonight over the All-Ireland champions in front of a home crowd.

Leaving it after them last Saturday was certainly careless but then who saw any possibility of them having that luxury? The accepted wisdom was that they would give Clare a rattle but this was more than that. They were the better side even when Clare were inching their way back into matters – dominant around the two 65s, untroubled in front of their own goal until Davy started emptying the bench.

More accurate

Had they been more accurate with their shooting or less clumsy with their tackling, they would have ended Clare’s summer. The basis for winning the replay is there, if they can add a few tweaks.

Their problem could be Clare’s facility for shape-shifting from game to game and even within games. The chess match will be fascinating from the off – you certainly can’t imagine Liam Óg McGovern being shown the space in behind his man he was last week.

It must be likely that Clare will at least start with a sweeper this time to stop Wexford jumping into an early lead. Once Clare got into their groove last year they led every game at half-time, holding the opposition to 0-8 (Wexford), 0-8 (Galway), 0-6 (Limerick), 0-10 (Cork) and 1-11 (Cork again) along the way.

Wexford had 2-9 at the break last week; it seems unlikely they’ll be allowed any such leeway this time around.

But then, that assumption is predicated on Clare finding said groove again. The vibes have not been good. Podge Collins will be missed, just as Shane O’Donnell has been.

Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath at least showed some form in the drawn game and Colin Ryan's frees will keep them in any encounter. Brendan Bugler has held his end up around the middle third but Colm Galvin, Pat Donnellan and Patrick O'Connor haven't yet blown with the hurricane force of 2013.

Champions deserve the benefit of the doubt until it’s obvious they’re not worth it. We can’t say that about Clare yet so they get the nod here.