Late flurry sees Wexford lower Banner

Wexford put a lengthy injury list behind them to record their first win in the Allianz NHL Division 1A at Cusack Park, as they outlasted Clare in a 1-12 to 1-10 success.

John Meyler's Models gained revenge on Clare for last summer’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final defeat as they hit the closing four points in Ennis this afternoon.

Clare led 0-03 to 0-10 before Wexford full-forward Richie Kehoe rasped home an eighth-minute goal.

Barry Nugent struck three points for the Banner as the sides were level at half-time – 0-08 to 1-05.

Newcomer Bernard Gaffney ended a 30-metre run with Clare's only goal but late points from Paul Carley (0-02), Mitch Jordan and Robbie Codd saw the visitors triumph.

Having lost by eleven points in their league opener against Waterford, it was vital for Wexford's top flight status that they posted a win as soon as possible and their hard work this afternoon was duly rewarded.

With players like left corner-back Paul Roche really stepping up to the mark, Meyler's side just had the edge on a day when too many of Clare’s line-up failed to fire.

The hosts did canter into an early lead, with Tony Carmody blasting a shot through the uprights from 68 metres out, Niall Gilligan eluding his marker to point and Nugent notching his first over.

A left-handed point from Eoin Quigley had briefly levelled the tie at 0-01 apiece but Wexford’s first score of note arrived in the eighth-minute when a long ball in caused consternation in the hosts' defence and Kehoe struck a powerful left-hand shot that gave goalkeeper Philip Brennan no chance.

There was a good response from the Clare attack – they registered points on 13, 20 and 24 minutes through Jonathan Clancy, Carmody and Nugent to go 0-06 to 1-02 ahead, before the impressive Quigley drew the sides level again.

Gilligan nosed Clare, who had hit six first-half wides, ahead before Wexford rallied once again to square up the game at the interval.

The Models briefly went in front, early in the second half, as points from Rory Jacob and the returning Stephen Nolan sandwiched another Gilligan score.

Gaffney's 49th-minute goal, which saw the Newmarket-on-Fergus star solo through on a memorable run before firing past Damien Fitzhenry, got Clare back on track.

A Gilligan point, after Michael Jacob had raised a white flag for the Leinster side, had Tony Considine’s charges 1-10 to 1-08 ahead.

Nonetheless, Clare could not hold on as Wexford raised their game in the closing 20 minutes and found the crucial scores from a variety of angles.

Corner-forward Carley swung over two excellent points on 57 and 58 minutes to level the game again, and Jordan put Meyler's men in front before substitute Codd found his range in injury-time.

The win, which moves Wexford level on two points with the four teams above them in the table, was all the more noteworthy given that Meyler is waiting on Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng (thumb), Darren Stamp (hand), Barry Lambert (shoulder), John O'Connor (hamstring), Stephen Doyle (shoulder) and Declan Ruth (hamstring) to come back from injuries.

Kevin Kavanagh (hernia) and Pat Doran (hamstring) have also only recently recovered from their knocks.