Having led from the opening minutes, Wexford never led through the course of the 60 minutes.
Clare had to withstand a third quarter surge from the model county, but through the final quarter they outplayed their opponents, as they bounced right back into championship contention.
While Wexford posed a significant threat in the third quarter their over-reliance on Sean O’Brien – he emerged with a personal tally of 0-11 (10 frees) – proved their downfall, with the side only managing a further single score during the course of the game.
Clare settled into the game from the start moving into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead inside the opening nine minutes, with a Harry Doherty point opening their account inside 30 seconds, while Matthew Corbett and Doherty added frees.
Wexford eventually settled into the game through points from Sean O’Brien and Colin Carley, leaving them trailing 0-4 to 0-2 after a low-scoring opening 20 minutes.
Corbett added a further pointed free, but Wexford responded through O’Brien frees, to leave the minimum separating the sides, 0-5 to 0-4 after 27 minutes.
Clare got the crucial breakthrough when Tadhg Lohan saw his goal attempt blocked, but full-forward Paul Rodgers pounced to crash the breaking ball to the net, helping Clare to a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead.
Clare opened the second-half impressively adding points from a Doherty free and half-back Dara Kennedy, but it was Wexford who enjoyed a purple patch as O’Brien sent over three frees, closing the gap to a single point, 1-8 to 0-10.
Clare were the more powerful side in the closing quarter, adding eight unanswered points through Graham Ball, Doherty (3), subs Ryan Hayes and Jerry O’Connor (two frees) before Liam Murphy cut in along the end line to goal from an acute angle to give his side a deserved victory.
Clare will now come up against Leinster champions, Kilkenny in the semi-final, while Galway and Tipperary meet on the opposite side.
Scorers – Clare: H Doherty 0-7, 3f; L Murphy 1-1; P Rodgers 1-0; M Corbett (0-2 frees), D Kennedy, J O’Connor (2f), 0-2 each; G Ball, R Hayes 0-1 each. Wexford: S O’Brien 0-11 (0-10 frees), C Carley 0-2.
Clare: M Crotty; D Moroney, S McNamara, S Og Kilkenny; R Mulcahy, J Cullinan, D Kennedy; G Ball, M Corbett; P Finneran, T Lohan, H Doherty; C Ralph, P Rodgers, L Murphy. Subs: D McNamara for Lohan (39), J O’Connor for Ralph (45), R Hayes for Corbett (45), D Ball for G Ball (49), E Collins for S McNamara (59).
Wexford: P Quigley; I Reilly, E Hughes, B Harpur; C Sinnott, R Donohoe, O Moore; J Nolan, K O’Mahoney; C Fanning, J Dunne, C Carley; A O’Connell-Byrne, S O’Brien, D Rossiter. Subs: J Kennedy for O’Connell-Byrne (37), R Wickham for Fanning (40), S Hyland for O’Mahoney (48), P Keavey for Moore (56).
Referee: C Daly (Kildare).
