Substitute Jack O'Connor fired a stunning long-range injury-time point to save Wexford as they knocked some of the wind from Clare’s sails in Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday.
Clare actually trailed 1-06 to 0-08 at half-time despite enjoying first advantage of the strong wind, and Wexford were denied an early second-half goal by an outstanding save from Cian Broderick on his league debut for the Banner.
While Clare appeared set to make it three wins on the spin when sub Mark Rodgers edged them 0-16 to 1-12 ahead on 70 minutes, Jack O’Connor intervention firmly establishes Wexford as the division’s draw specialists as Keith Rossiter’s men had to satisfy themselves with deadlock for the third game running.
The 1-13 to 0-16 result heightens the importance of a victory for Walsh Cup champions Wexford away to former boss Davy Fitzgerald and his Waterford charges on 10 March in Wexford quest for involvement in the top-tier of league next year.
Clare host Kilkenny that same afternoon with Brian Lohan’s crew seeking to consolidate a strong start to the campaign.
Clare were first to avail of the advantage of the strong wind in blustery Wexford to build a 0-04 to 0-01 advantage after eleven minutes through Ian Galvin, Aidan McCarthy (free) and a David Fitzgerald brace.
And they also had cause for frustration even before they struck the scoresheet, as Fitzgerald had a kicked finish to the net cancelled out for 'travelling’.
Wexford suffered the blow of losing Kevin Foley to injury early on, while home concerns heightened when the talismanic Lee Chin was also an injury withdrawal on 25 minutes.
But, before an attendance of 4,386, Wexford masked those personnel blows as, with Clare struggling to achieve any fluency upfront, Conor Hearne and Seamus Casey helped shave the margin to 0-08 to 0-05 before Casey forced an injury-time penalty.
And the Oylegate-Glenbrien man rammed home the opportunity to level matters for the first time, before Cathal Dunbar battled for possession in his own half to give Wexford a satisfactory edge at the break (1-06 to 0-08).
But while Wexford inflicted early second-half blows through Corey Byrne-Dunbar and goalie Mark Fanning (free), Clare restored the slim margin via Fitzgerald and free-taker McCarthy.
Wexford appeared to have a second goal wrapped-up on 43 minutes after a nifty hand-pass from Seamus Casey sent Cathal Dunbar through only to be denied by a distinguished intervention from emerging Clare ‘keeper Broderick.
And relieved Clare drew level at 0-11 to 1-08 through David Fitzgerald after 52 minutes as the wing-forward ended a ten minute scoring impasse.
Substitutes Shane Meehan, Peter Duggan (free) and Mark Rodgers raised Clare back hopes after 58 minutes with the scores poised at 0-14 to 1-09.
But the tension built as Wexford regained the initiative by 1-12 to 0-14 after 67 minutes with a hat-trick of Casey points (two frees).
David Fitzgerald and Rodgers (free) swung the tie back tentatively in favour of Clare, before Jack O’Connor struck the ultimate equaliser from distance 53 seconds into injury-time to restore parity for a sixth occasion.
Wexford enjoyed the lion’s share of opportunities in the remaining few minutes, but were left to count the cost of striking fifteen of the game’s 25 wides.
Wexford: Mark Fanning (0-01 free); Niall Murphy, Conor Foley, Eoin Ryan; Shane Reck, Damien Reck, Simon Donohoe; Conor Hearne (0-01), Kevin Foley; Cathal Dunbar (0-01), Seamus Casey (1-04, 0-02 frees), James Byrne; Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin (0-03, 1 free), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-01).
Subs: Jack Doran (0-01) for K. Foley, inj. (9), Jack O’Connor (0-01) for Chin, inj. (26), Cian Byrne for J. Byrne (55), Tomás Kinsella for Doran (64).
Clare: Cian Broderick; Adam Hogan, Conor Leen, Rory Hayes; Darragh Lohan, John Conlon, Cian Galvin; Cathal Malone, Seán Rynne; David Fitzgerald (0-05), Robin Mounsey (0-01), Patrick Crotty (0-01); Ian Galvin (0-01), Aidan McCarthy (0-04, 3 frees), Keith Smyth.
Subs: Mark Rodgers (0-02, 1 free) for Mounsey (HT), Peter Duggan (0-01) for Crotty (HT), Shane Meehan (0-01) for I. Galvin (50), Diarmuid Ryan for Leen (58), Gearóid Sheedy for McCarthy (68).
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).
Watch highlights on Allianz League Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 9.30pm, follow a live blog every Sunday afternoon on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live updates on Sunday Sport
