*Tony Kelly led the way for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A fifth successive provincial victory over Waterford ensures that Clare’s rehabilitation was completed as their fate is firmly in their own hands ahead of their final round showdown against Cork next Sunday.
Clare 2-22
Waterford 0-16
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Tipperary
Following the Banner’s defeating opening reverse to Tipperary, it seemed as if Clare’s latest Munster Championship bid was almost dead in the water before it actually got off the ground. Not for the first time however, Brian Lohan’s men fully demonstrated their true grit and character to not only lower perennial Munster and All-Ireland champions Limerick on their own patch but add a second away victory to knock Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford out of the championship.
14 man Waterford were once more only an imitation band of their true selves but equally Clare could only beat what was put in front of them though, with superb goals for Ian Galvin and Cathal Malone and a 13 point haul from captain Tony Kelly resulting in a twelve point final margin for the second successive season.
It was a bizarre contest to watch or analyse as Waterford set out to blur the formation lines and implement a unique puck-out strategy by leaving no-one inside their 45 metre line. Early confusion in the Banner ranks weren’t exploited though as Waterford’s twelve first half wides proved exceedingly frustratingly while the dismissal of Calum Lyons on the half hour mark for two need-less misdemeanors effectively negated any innovation they Deise had up their sleeve.
The turning point of the match had arrived ten minutes before that sending off though as a superb goal saving flick by captain Tony Kelly on the raiding Mark Fitzgerald was quickly transferred to the other end by Diarmuid Ryan for a Clare goal. David Fitzgerald control and sublime immediate handpass unleashed Ian Galvin to fire past goalkeeper Billy Nolan to nudge the Banner 1-7 to 0-5 in front.
By half-time, that goal still separated the sides at 1-10 to 0-10 but with the wind and a numerical advantage in their favour for the second period, there was a real sense of inevitability about the result.
Clare had glorious chances to put clear daylight between the sides in the first two minutes of the restart but a Tony Kelly shot was repelled by goalkeeper Nolan while David Fitzgerald deft lob agonisingly came off the far left post.
Kelly’s unerring efficiency saw him secure Clare’s first seven points of the second period to create an incremental chasm at 1-17 to 0-12 before grabbing the clinching goal at the turn of the final quarter.
It stemmed from good work from Mark Rodgers and David McInerney who delivered to Cathal Malone to play a one-two with Peter Duggan and pull to the net to soar eleven clear.
That gap would be stretched to 14 entering the final ten minutes as the excellent Shane O’Donnell, Ryan Taylor and impact subs Shane Meehan and Robin Mounsey fleshed out the lead at 2-21 to 0-13.
Waterford replacement Patrick Curran did lessen the final damage but overall it would prove an-other dark day for Waterford which was reflected in the paltry 14,320 attendance.
Clare meanwhile completed a perfect trip to Tipp with a third major victory in Semple Stadium in just five days as following the Under 20’s advancement to a Munster decider and the minors provincial victory on Tuesday, this was a worthy crowning glory that tees up the Cork match per-fectly in Cusack Park Ennis next Sunday (2pm).
The only downside for Brian Lohan’s men was the absence of Aidan McCarthy through a leg inju-ry picked up midweek while David McInerney also had to retire prematurely entering the final quarter.
Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly (0-13, 8f, 1’65); Ian Galvin, Cathal Malone (1-1 each); Diarmuid Ryan, Shane O’Donnell (0-2 each); Ryan Taylor, Shane Meehan, Robin Mounsey (0-1 each)
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett (0-7f); Austin Gleeson (0-3, 2f); Dessie Hutchinson, Pat-rick Curran (0-2 each); Jamie Barron, Peter Hogan, (0-1 each)
Clare
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
4: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
3: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
2: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
7: David McInerney (Tulla)
9: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
13: Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
14: Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
8: David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
15: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
10: Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
11: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
18: Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
Subs:
19: Shane Meehan (Banner) for Galvin (51)
23: Paul Flanagan (Ballyea) for McInerney (53, inj)
26: Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Hayes (59)
22: Robin Mounsey (Ruan) for Rodgers (62)
20: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Ryan (63)
Waterford
1: Billy Nolan (Roanmore)
6: Calum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower)
7: Jack Fagan (De La Salle)
5: Mark Fitzgerald (Passage)
4: Iarlaith Daly (Lismore)
12: Neil Montgomery (Fourmilewater)
3: Conor Prunty (Abbeyside)
2: Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
8: Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
9: Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan)
11: Jack Prendergast (Lismore)
10: Peter Hogan (Ballygunner)
14: Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
13: Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
15: Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)
Subs:
22: Patrick Fitzgerald (Ballygunner) for Hogan (50)
23: Padraig Fitzgerald (Killrossanty) for A. Gleeson (58)
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
