*Fred Hegarty. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A 63rd minute winner from Marc O’Brien saw the Clare minor hurlers squeeze past Waterford after a dramatic finish in the Dungarvan sunshine on Friday evening.
Clare 0-20
Waterford 1-16
Venue: Fraher Field, Dungarvan,
Tomás McCarthy at Fraher Field
For the second time in the space of 24 hours, a Waterford team have been eliminated from the provincial championship by Clare opposition. Terence Fahy’s U20 hurlers dumped the Déise out on Thursday evening and Brian O’Connell’s minors did likewise on Friday.
In a game of two halves, the Déise rallied from nine points down to level it up deep into injury time with a goal from Conor Tobin. Half time substitute Colm Hartley lifted the hosts with ten points (seven frees, two from play and a 65) but James O’Connor’s side fell agonisingly short and exited the Munster championship with a match left to play.
Michael Collins got three crucial second half points and four in total as Clare put their second win on the board. Rock solid full back Ronan Keane and long range free taker James Hegarty also impressed. Brian O’Connell’s charges welcome Cork to Sixmilebridge on Tuesday night.
A stop-start first half featured 22 frees. Marc O’Brien nailed four for the visitors while centre back James Hegarty sent over three from distance as wind assisted Clare led 12-4 at the break.
The Banner raced eight points up after seventeen minutes. O’Brien converted three frees while Hegarty, Jack Mescall, Michael Collins, Michael Power and Oige Fanning also raised white flags. Waterford played with Cathal O’Sullivan as the seventh defender but Clare looked more comfortable working the ball through the lines.
It took the home team 19 minutes to open their account through a David Comerford free. The Déise number nine nailed four in the first half. Hegarty hit two more bombs from his own half as the Banner reached the dressing rooms eight points to the good.
Waterford boss James O’Connor made a triple substitution at the break as he introduced Colm Hartley, Sean Kelly and Cormac Deevy. Hartley made an immediate impact as he fired over a free from between his own 45 and 65. Clare extended their lead to 14-5 with further dead balls from O’Brien and Hegarty.
Hartley punched the air when he shot Waterford’s first from play on 38 minutes (0-14 to 0-7). Michael Collins replied with a Clare point from a tight angle. Ronan Keane then made a goal saving block on Déise captain.
Sean Mackey. Hartley converted the subsequent 65. The Ballygunner ace struck another free before Leon Lannon saved from O’Brien.
Hartley missed a sitter in front of the posts but he made amends with two more massive frees. Mackey also pointed from play to leave just a goal between them with eleven minutes remaining (0-15 to 0-12). Collins silenced the home crowd with another crucial single for Clare. O’Brien made it 17-12 but the hosts weren’t finished yet.
Three more Hartley points, including a mighty effort from midfield, cut the gap to one entering injury time. An action packed four minutes followed. O’Brien missed a free for Clare but Harry Doherty and Collins handed them a three point cushion.
Conor Tobin lifted the roof off the stand when he whipped home but Brian O’Connell’s team kept their composure and O’Brien split the posts. There was still time for Hartley to try a long range effort but it didn’t have the distance.
Scorers for Clare: Mark O’Brien 0-7 (6fs), James Hegarty (4fs), Michael Collins 0-4 each, Oige Fanning, Sean Arthur, Jack Mescall, Michael Power, Harry Doherty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Colm Hartley 0-10 (7fs, 1 65), David Comerford 0-5 (5fs), Conor Tobin 1-0, Sean Mackey 0-1.
Clare
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
3: Ronan Keane (Kilanena)
4: Eoin Carey (Cratloe)
5: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
19: James Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona)
7: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
13: Jack Mescall (Inagh Kilnamona)
9: Ronan Kilroy (The Banner)
12: Sean Arthur (Newmarket on Fergus)
11: Fred Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona)
10: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
15: Michael Power (Newmarket on Fergus)
14: Mark O’Brien (Cratloe)
8: Oige Fanning (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
Subs
24: Emmet Mulcahy (Tulla) for Arthur (45)
21: Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) for Fred Hegarty (49)
6: Mark O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) for Kilroy (55)
22: Eoin Begley (Clonlara) for Power (57),
Waterford
1: Leon Lannon (Dungarvan)
2: Liam Lynch (Ardmore)
3: Dylan Ryan (Mount Sion)
4: Tom Ahern (Ballyduff Upper)
5: Eoghan Barry (Roanmore)
7: Cathal O’Sullivan (Ballygunner)
18: Eddie Burke (Dungarvan)
19: Philip Power (Ballygunner)
9: David Comerford (St Mollerans)
11: Adam Regan (Mount Sion)
14: Sean Mackey (Fenor)
13: Conor Tobin (Ballygunner)
15: Charlie Lineen (Lismore)
8: Gearoid Power (Clonea)
12: Callum Carroll (Roanmore)
Subs
22: Sean Kelly (Passage) for Lineen (HT)
23: Cormac Deevy (Brickey Rangers) for Burke (HT)
10: Colm Hartley (Ballygunner) for Regan (HT)
6: Aodhan Hickey (Ballyduff Upper) for Carroll (52)
24: Mark Power (Kilgobinet) for Hartley (Blood, 59)
Referee: Peter Carroll (Tipperary)
