Clare v Wexford

Despite knocking out Wexford in three of the last four All-Ireland Senior campaigns, there is unlikely to be any shred of complacency on Clare's part this ...

Clare meanwhile have answered every question asked of them so far and while extra-time ultimately proved a step too far against perennial champions Limerick, it’s pivotal that they can maintain their challenge into the All-Ireland series. The 2019 Leinster champions’ form has been at best unpredictable, having drawn with Galway, lost to Dublin, hammered Laois, drawn with Westmeath before beating eventual Leinster champions Kilkenny in the final outing so it’s difficult to know what Wexford will emerge in Semple Stadium on Saturday. The conundrum for opposition managers is that by focusing on Kelly, it allows the likes of Shane O’Donnell and Peter Duggan the extra space to pick holes and prosper so it will be interesting to see Wexford’s tactical approach.

Clare have completed the hurling semi-final line-up with a 1-24 to 3-14 victory over Wexford at Semple Stadium. Earlier, Galway beat Cork 2-19 to 1-21 in ...

In a pre-match preview piece, Nicky English writes that an unwelcome distraction for Clare brings Wexford within reach. 33 mins: Wexford had frustrated Clare so far, particularly on puck outs. But Chin immediately responds with a turn and point. HALF TIME: Wexford 1-7 Clare 0-10. Tony Kelly not featuring much in the match so far. 41 mins: McDonald wins a free which is converted by Chin. But Clare go up the pitch and Kelly scores a typical score. Only seconds earlier Galvin’s shot for Clare had crashed off the crossbar. 68 mins: Point by Tony Kelly as Clare surge continues.. GOAL FOR WEXFORD. Chin wins the ball again close to the goal and smashes home. They win a free quickly afterwards, running at the defence. Lee Chin had an excellent game for Wexford and was unfortunate to end up on the losing side. 65 mins: Nice pass by Kelly to Cathal Malone in the middle of the pitch who puts the ball over the bar easily.

The hurling championship was in existence for 115 years before it threw up a meeting between Clare and Wexford and now they can't stop bumping into one ...

Improving their lamentable record against Clare would be a real and tangible sign of progress and really light a fire under Egan's reign. When Wexford won the All-Ireland in 1996, Clare weren't around to halt them, having fallen victim to Ciaran Carey's charge of the light brigade in the sweltering heat of the Gaelic Grounds. That famous game was, according to Loughnane in an interview with Joe Molloy, the first time Munster hurling people had encountered the phenomenon of bottled water, which was perceived as pure sand to the Arabs stuff at time. After Clare won the All-Ireland in '95, he descended on the town to sample the homecoming, partly due to familial ties and partly, it seemed, to derive some inspiration by osmosis. "I just feel it's a shame it never happened that time," Griffin told the Irish Independent ahead of their rather more drab inaugural encounter five years later. The incident remains shrouded in some mystery. Last year, they did recover to give the match a decent rattle after a horrible first quarter. They bonded as fellow insurgents in the 90s, both throwing off the yoke of their respective oppressors. Indeed, Wexford were at that time Exhibit A in why the league didn't matter - a mantle which has since been claimed by Waterford. During the league, all the talk was that Darragh Egan had found the perfect blend between his predecessor's short-ball game and a more traditional approach. Whether it was merely an inspired backs-to-the-wall last stand or a hint of things to come, we will find out more on Saturday. Many observers had mentally consigned Wexford's 2022 campaign to oblivion after their seemingly disastrous draw away to Westmeath in Round 4 of the round robin. And Brian Lohan's side are set to re-acquaint themselves with Wexford for the third year running.