Beat after exciting recount (7)
I believe the answer is:
trounce
'beat' is the definition.
(I know that beat can be written as trounce)
'exciting recount' is the wordplay.
'exciting' indicates anagramming the letters.
'recount' is an anagram of 'TROUNCE'.
'after' is the link.
(Other definitions for trounce that I've seen before include "Easily best" , "Beat thoroughly on recount" , "Destroy" , "Thrash" , "Defeat decisively" .)