Weakened hurlers suffer second big loss in week

A DEPRESSING second phase of the Allianz Hurling League went from bad to worse in sunny Wexford Park on April 24, 2005, when Clare romped into their first final since 1995 with a resounding 5-16 to 1-15 over the disjointed home side.

Early promise amounted to nothing in the long run as Wexford were taken asunder by the rampant visitors who had two scoring aces in Tony Carmody and Niall Gilligan.

That deadly duo accounted for 4-8 from play between them as Anthony Daly’s side secured a final place against Kilkenny.

While Wexford had nothing as tangible to play for, it was hoped that the pasting they took in Nowlan Park seven days earlier would fire them up sufficiently to get stuck into their well-drilled rivals.

Everything was going well in that regard for more than half of the first period, and there was no great indicator of what was to follow up to the point when Rory Jacob shot a glorious equaliser from under the stand in the 25th minute to make it 1-7 each.

It quickly unravelled though, as Clare added 1-5 without reply before the interval.

Wexford: Damien Fitzhenry; Malachy Travers, David O’Connor, Keith Rossiter; Declan Ruth (0-2 frees), Darren Stamp, Kevin Kavanagh; John O’Connor (0-2 line ball), Rory McCarthy; Michael Jacob (capt., 0-1), Eoin Quigley (0-1), Des Mythen; Nigel Higgins (1-1), Micheál Jordan, Rory Jacob (0-5, 3 frees). Subs. - M.J. Furlong for Higgins (temp.), Furlong (0-1) for J. O’Connor, Barry Lambert (0-2) for Quigley, Chris McGrath for Jordan, David O’Brien for McCarthy.