GAELIC GAMES All-Ireland SHC Quarter-final: Clare 1-20, Wexford 0-12 A good day for Clare hurling but a terribly disappointing beginning to the All-Ireland quarter-final series. Anthony Daly must have been quietly astonished by just how easily his team made it to the last four of the championship.at Croke Park
They came prepared to charge through a barricaded door only to find it wide open. Wexford could produce none of the vigour or invention they displayed against Kilkenny in the Leinster final and exited the championship with a meekness that must have been hard for their supporters to swallow.
In contrast, everything went swimmingly for Clare. The form of this team seems to fluctuate wildly these days, but yesterday they gave Daly his most stress-free afternoon patrolling the sideline.
From the off, they looked like the more persuasive team. They made fine use of the overcast, blustery conditions in the first half, comfortably banging over points which were helped by a strong breeze.
Tony Griffin and Tony Carmody set the tone early on and after the first five minutes it was obvious that Wexford would struggle to cope against the Clare height and physique.
However, they were nicely in touch until the 24th minute, when Declan Ruth limped off with an injury. Diarmuid Lyng moved into the centre-half position, with Redmond Barry coming on as a replacement, but immediately, Clare began to pull way with Diarmuid McMahon finding his range before Colin Lynch burst through a pair of Wexford tackles to land a Howitzer score that spelled doom for Wexford.
The goal followed two minutes later with Barry Nugent slipping a handpass for Alan Markham and although Damien Fitzhenry got his hurl to the sliothar, he couldn't prevent the goal.
Thirty seconds later, all Fitzhenry could do was watch as Seánie McMahon delivered a huge point which signalled that it was going to be one of those days for Clare.
Trailing 1-13 to 0-7 at the break, Wexford needed to make a positive start but instead it was Alan Markham who extended the Clare advantage. Only Des Mythen caused notable problems for the Clare defence, landing three excellent points in the first half, but overall the forwards struggled. The speed and movement which they used to work such mischief against Kilkenny did not feature. The game just passed them by and players like Eoin Quigley, bold and at times brilliant against Kilkenny, were rendered anonymous here.
Wexford's one chance for a revival came after 45 minutes when the breeze carried a long ball from Malachy Travers over the head of Frank Lohan. For the first time, Wexford had the Clare back line facing their own goal and had room to work with. Mitch Jordan played a perfect pass as Brian Lohan and Gerry O'Grady closed in, leaving Quigley with a one-on-one against Fitzgerald. He never connected with the shot, however, Clare broke free and Gilligan, after a passage of play during which Doc O'Connor played both hero and villain, clipped his first and only point from play.
Now 1-17 to 0-10 points up with 20 minutes left, the game was played out as though it was an early season challenge.
The damage could have been worse on Wexford, no strangers to these big-day blowouts but for the persistently excellent display of Darragh Ryan.
It seems a pity that the prime years of the St Anne's man have coincided with this uncertain phase for Wexford hurling. And given that this match was the swansong for Adrian Fenlon, Wexford have lost yet another member of the 1996 bunch. The Rapparees man was as committed as ever here, but it was a dispiriting day on which to close his inter-county career.
That Clare were the first team to book a place in the semi-finals served as confirmation of their deep resilience. They have undoubtedly warmed up since the low of the Tipperary performance and the glittering return of 1-8 from play from their half-forward line will enhance their confidence. Colin Lynch bounced around the place with purpose and menace. Brian Lohan completely subdued Michael Jacob, moving outfield to trail the Oulart man when required. His block and clearance in the third minute set up Griffin's first point and from there, Lohan did not put a foot wrong. Gerry Quinn, and in particular McMahon, locked up the half-back line and troubled the Wexford defence with a series of long first-half clearances which Griffin and company hoovered up.
The listlessness that afflicted Wexford meant that the last quarter of the game just petered out. Clare, however, can look forward to the semi-final knowing that they can still turn it on when it matters in Croke Park.
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; F Lohan,B Lohan, G O'Grady; D Hoey, S McMahon (0-2, 65), G Quinn; B O'Connell (0-1), C Lynch (0-1), D McMahon (0-4), T Carmody (0-3), A Markham (1-1); B Nugent, N Gilligan (0-5, 4 frees), T Griffin (0-3). Subs: D O'Rourke for B Nugent (41 mins), C Plunkett for D Hoey (41 mins), D O'Connell for T Griffin (66 mins), J Clancy for A Markham (68 mins), A Quinn for N Gilligan (70 mins).
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; D O'Connor, D Ryan, K Rossiter; M Travers, D Ruth (0-1 free), D Lyng (0-1 65); A Fenlon (0-1), R McCarthy; M Jacob (0-2), E Quigley, P Carley; D Mythen (0-3), M Jordan, R Jacob (0-3 frees). Subs: R Barry (0-1) for D Ruth (24 mins inj), T Mahon for P Carley (42 mins), W Doran for R Jacob (61 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)
