Wexford surprise Clare to kick campaign into life

Wexford kickstarted their National Hurling League campaign when leapfrogging fellow Division 1A strugglers Clare in a basement battle in Cusack Park.

With both sides seeking a first win of 2025, the Banner got off to the best start but it was the visitors who finished with aplomb having outscored their hosts by 1-18 to 0-11 in the final 50 minutes of the contest.

With All-Ireland champions Tony Kelly, John Conlon, David Fitzgerald and Mark Rodgers making their first starts of 2025, hopes were high of a first home breakthrough but aside from Kelly, who lit up Ennis with a scorching 1-3 opening quarter, there was an air of ring-rustiness throughout Clare's performance.

Wexford meanwhile looked like a team battling for their 1A lives as, led by Lee Chin who was also making his starting bow for the new season, Keith Rossiter’s ravenous side were full value for their rousing triumph.

Such a final scoreline didn’t initially seem likely when Tony Kelly fired a goal within 90 seconds of the throw-in. Despite being against the conditions, Clare blazed an early trail when Mark Rodgers broke Wexford’s defensive cover and offloaded to Kelly to finish to the net on their way to a 1-04 to 0-02 advantage after eleven minutes.

Kevin Foley did have a goal chance saved by Eibhear Quilligan at the other end but Wexford would have better luck over his crossbar, eventually regaining full parity by the 23rd minute after unanswered points for Cian Byrne (2), Cathal Dunbar and Chin at 1-06 to 0-09.

However, it was the last four points of the half that really put Wexford into the driving seat as the entire full-forward line of Kevin Foley, Cian Byrne and Seamus Casey - along with chief architect Chin - secured a 0-15 to 1-09 interval edge.

Aidan