*David Reidy impressed for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE will face Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final for third year in succession after overcoming Wexford by twelve points.
Clare 2-28
Wexford 1-19
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
Second half goals from Shane O’Donnell and Ian Galvin killed off the contest on Saturday afternoon with Clare bouncing back from the disappointment of a third Munster final loss in a row to seal their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Prior to O’Donnell’s forty second minute wonder goal, three points were between the team. While Wexford hit back with three white flags in a row to cancel out the major, they were unable to bounce back after Galvin struck for goal on fifty three minutes, turning Eoin Ryan and cleverly dispatching to the net.
From the throw-in, Clare were lively, this was typified by David Reidy winning the break from a throw-in and earning a free off Rory O’Connor, the Wexford man picking up a costly yellow card on twenty two seconds. The free was dispatched by Mark Rodgers to open the scoring.
O’Connor picked up a second yellow card when fouling Reidy on thirty two minutes and it was too much to ask of Wexford to withstand the Clare challenge with only fourteen men. Ironically it is the second time he has been sent off against Clare in championship.
Reidy was next Clare’s scorer while Conor Leen hit his first championship score when running onto the ball with again Reidy having an assist, the Éire Óg man certainly showing that it was a mistake to drop him for the Munster final.
Aron Shanagher who was handed his first start of the championship put Clare four clear. The Shannon man was one of the only players in the matchday squad to play in the Clare Cup last weekend, whether he was cleared to play is unsure but he hit 1-4 in thirty minutes as Wolfe Tones denied Clarecastle a semi-final place.
Wexford seemed to be intent on testing Eibhear Quilligan, Rory O’Connor broke through Clare’s defence far too easily but his chance of goal was stopped by Diarmuid Ryan and Adam Hogan, O’Connor scooped the breaking ball to get their first score.
Rodgers and Shane O’Donnell lining out in his fifty third championship tie hit back for Clare before Mark Fanning landed a long range free for Keith Rossiter’s side.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill
Cathal Malone had the assist for Tony Kelly’s first score, he caught a puckout from Fanning and Kelly as he is when at his best joyfully took the offload and glided on his feet on the Semple Stadium sod to split the posts. Lee Chin replied with two frees before Kelly converted a free from distance.
Malone’s workrate once again aided Clare, in the first half of the Munster final it was a hook to stop a goal chance for Limerick, this time it was an interception on Simon Donohoe as he bore down on goal, Clare turned over possession, Shane O’Donnell gave a wonderful pass to his club mate Reidy and the gap was five points on nineteen minutes.
Scores from Kelly, David Fitzgerald and Mark Rodgers extended the lead to seven points with twenty three minutes played.
Then Wexford scored 1-4 without reply to get back on level terms. The goal was a penalty for Chin, arising from a poor pass by Adam Hogan after a short puckout that saw David McInerney forced to haul down O’Connor and pick up a black card for his troubles.
Three of the last four points in the half including two from Kelly saw Brian Lohan’s charges head in leading 0-15 1-10 at half time. The bigger boost arriving on thirty two minutes with the dismissal of O’Connor who had two points from play by this juncture.
From the moment Shane O’Donnell struck for Clare’s opening goal eight minutes into the second half the result was clear.
His goal put Clare six points clear and while Wexford cut the led to three by the mid point of the half, Clare dominated in most areas.
As the game entered the final quarter Ian Galvin signalled his arrival with the team’s second goal and it was really one way traffic from here to the finish
Scorers Clare: S O’Donnell (1-4), T Kelly (0-6 1f), M Rodgers (0-6 6f), I Galvin (1-1), D Reidy (0-3), D Fitzgerald (0-2), D Ryan (0-2), C Leen (0-1), A Shanagher (0-1), S Meehan (0-1), A McCarthy (0-1 1’65).
Scorers Wexford: L Chin (1-6 5f 1’Pen), C Foley (0-3 1’SC), K Foley (0-2), R O’Connor (0-2), C Byrne (0-2), M Fanning (0-1 1f), C Hearne (0-1), C McDonald (0-1), C Dunbar (0-1).
Clare’s full senior squad is as follows:
1. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2. Adam Hogan (Feakle)
3. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4. Conor Leen (Corofin)
7. David McInerney (Tulla)
6. John Conlon (Clonlara)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
9. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
10. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
8. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
14. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
12. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
11. Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
23. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
15. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs:
22. Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Duggan (44)
21. Patrick Crotty (Scariff) for Fitzgerald (56)
19. Cian Galvin (Clarecastle) for Conlon (58)
24. Shane Meehan (Banner) for Shanagher (60)
13. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Rodgers (66)
Wexford:
1: Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)
2: Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
7: Matthew O’Hanlon  (St. James’)
4: Eoin Ryan (St. Annes)
3: Conor Foley (Horeswood)
6: Damian Reck  (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
5: Simon Donohue (Shelmalliers)
8: Conor Hearne (Shelmalliers)
10: Liam Og McGovern (St. Annes)
12: Charlie McGuckin (Naomh Eanna)
9: Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers)
15: Rory O’Connor (St.Martin’s)
13: Cian Byrne (St.Mogues Fethard)
11: Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
14: Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
Subs:
20: Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Éanna) for Óg McGovern (44)
17: Kevin  Foley (Rapparees) for McGuckin (42)
23: Corey Byrne Dunbar (Fern St Aidans) for C. Byrne (53)
18: Seamus Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrian) for C McDonald (67)
22: Darragh Carley (Glynn-Barntown) for Lawlor (67)
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
