Sport

Fitzgerald's tenure has Clare back on song

Clare 3-16 Wexford 0-18 : CLARE RECORDED a seven-point win over Wexford at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday and as a result made…

Mon Mar 26 2012 - 01:00

Clare 3-16 Wexford 0-18: CLARE RECORDED a seven-point win over Wexford at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday and as a result made it through to the Division 1B final, with one game to spare.

Since Davy Fitzgerald took over as team boss of his native county this season, his charges have won four league game from four and will try to keep their unbeaten run going when they face Offaly away, next weekend.

The home-side raced into a 0-5 to no score lead by the eighth minute and at the end of the opening half the scoreboard read 2-8 to 0-9 in their favour.

John Conlon produced the game’s opening goal in the 20th minute when he came in from the right wing and shot past goalkeeper Niall Breen at his near post. Seán Collins added another before the break after he was fed a sweet pass by Conor McGrath.

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McGrath himself grabbed Clare’s third three-pointer, six minutes into the second-half, as Wexford struggled to remain afloat. To add insult to injury, they had to play most of the half with only 14 as Matthew O’Hanlon was dismissed for two yellow cards.

Clare had some fines scores over the 70 minutes from the likes of McGrath and Conlon and midfielder Nicky O’Connell was not found wanting either, contributing three valuable points.

The winning side also benefited from a superb performance in defence by wing back Brendan Bugler, while youngster Séadna Morey put in a tigerish display to enhance his chances of gaining a permanent slot on the team.

CLARE: P Kelly; E Glynn, C Dillon, C Cooney; B Bugler, J McInerney, S Morey; N O'Connell (0-3, one free), P Donnellan (capt); J Clancy, S Collins (1-1), F Lynch (0-1); C Ryan, J Conlon (1-2), C McGrath (1-7, four frees). Subs: C McInerney for Lynch (inj, half-time), L Markham (0-2) for Glynn (51 mins), A Cunningham for Ryan (53 mins), C Galvin for Donnellan (67 mins).

WEXFORD: N Breen; J Tonks, M O'Hanlon, K Rossiter (capt); D Redmond, D Stamp, C Kenny; E Quigley, PJ Nolan; J Guiney (0-12, 10 frees, one 65), J Leacy, H Kehoe (0-2, free); R Jacob, S Banville, D O'Keeffe (0-1) . Subs: D Lyng (0-1) for Banville (half-time), R Kehoe (0-1) for Kenny (51 mins), P Morris for Nolan (54 mins), B Kenny for Tonks (54 mins), J Berry (0-1) for H Kehoe (65 mins).

Referee:A Kelly (Galway).