Clare turn on the style to hammer Wexford

Clare provided the perfect response to their shellacking by Limerick when strolling past Wexford in Sunday's Division 1B clash at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Brian Lohan’s men quickly silenced the locals amongst the 6,840 attendance as, following an early exchange of goals, David Reidy, Aidan McCarthy and the returning Tony Kelly also netted to sweep the Banner to a 4-17 to 1-6 interval advantage.

And there was no way back for Wexford who face daunting trips to Cork and Limerick, while Clare are home to both Galway and Cork as they chase involvement in the knockout stages for the first time since 2019.

Clare made a statement following an early exchange of points when David Reidy sent Peter Duggan racing through a parting Wexford defence to net a 1-1 to 0-1 lead in the third minute.

Wexford were momentarily lifted after a quick exchange of passes from Charlie McGuckin and Cathal Dunbar saw the latter dart through to feed Naomh Eanna club-mate Conor McDonald for a lift and strike finish to the net, before Conor Foley balanced the books on eight minutes (1-3 apiece).

But wind-assisted Clare outwitted the home-side, preying upon an unsettled Wexford rearguard to quickly shift four points clear – with Tony Kelly contributing from midfield – before Kelly fed David Reidy for a tidy 15th minute goal (2-8 to 1-4).

And the odds were ever shortening on a first Banner victory in this particular league duel in three attempts when a puck-out from Clare 'keeper Eamonn Foudy found Aidan McCarthy to swell his personal account to 1-4 after 20 minutes and Clare’s advantage to 3-9 to 1-4.

The picture kept getting rosier for Brian Lohan’s charges with Tony Kelly sniping on a Wexford puck-out to turnover possession and speed in from the right flank to