It was far too easy for Clare’s U20 footballers who set up a Munster semi-final clash with Cork after they brushed past the challenge of Waterford on Thursday night.
Clare 3-14
Waterford 0-06
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
Clare will face off with Cork in the last four of the Munster U20 gaelic football championship having eased past Waterford who they limited to two points in the second half.
With the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half, Waterford failed to make their dominance show and it proved costly and resulted in a very long journey home from Miltown Malbay.
Mark McInerney and Shane Meehan accounted for 3-07 of Clare’s tally while Diarmuid O’Donnell also added three points as the full-forward line caused most of the damage. However, the supply of ball particularly from Daniel Walsh, Cillian Rouine and Sean Conway allowed for such control with Walsh executing an excellent cross-field pass to tee up McInerney for Clare’s third goal on fifty one minutes.
Meehan goaled in either half. The first seeing him jink right and left before planting the ball in the bottom right corner of the net. His second came twelve seconds into the second half as Clare stormed past Waterford from the throw in. Such a commanding start was a sign of what was to come with Michael Neylon’s men completely dominating proceedings in the second half.
They face Cork on Wednesday and will be well aware a much stiffer test lies ahead.
Scorers for Clare: S Meehan (2-02 2f), M McInerney (1-05 4f), D O’Donnell (0-03), E McMahon (0-02), M Garry (0-01), E Thynne (0-01).
Scorers for Waterford: A Ryan (0-03 3f), N McSweeney (0-02 2f), J Power (0-01)
Clare:
1: Tom O’Brien (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Micheál Murray (St Josephs Miltown)
4: Ciarán McMahon (Ennistymon)
5: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
6: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
7: Sean Conway (Doonbeg)
8: Oisin Looney (St Josephs Miltown)
9: Eoin Rouine (Ennistymon)
10: John Murphy (Ennistymon)
11: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
12: Thomas Clancy (O’Currys)
13: Diarmuid O’Donnell (Kildysart)
14: Shane Meehan (Banner)
15: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
Subs:
18: Morgan Garry (Clondegad) for Clancy (38)
17: Eoghan Thynne (St Josephs Doora/Barefield) for E Rouine (44)
19: Gavin D’Auria (Éire Óg) for Conway (47)
22: Cian McDonagh (St Josephs Doora/Barefield) for O’Donnell (54)
21: Stephen Sheehan (Kildysart) for McInerney (55)
Waterford:
1: David Daniels (Gaultier)
3: Sean Boyce (The Nire)
2: Colin Foley (Ballinacourty)
4: Keelan Taylor (St Saviours)
5: Liam Fennell (Stradbally)
6: Reece Stringer (Colligan)
7: Seamus Cronin (Ardmore)
9: John Devine (Modeligo)
8: Tom Walsh (Rathgormack)
21: James Power (Rathgormack)
11: Aaron Ryan (The Nire)
10: Sam Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
13: James Walsh (Kilgobnet)
14: Oliver McAllister (Butlerstown)
12: Jack Keane (Ardmore)
Subs:
15: Niall McSweeney (Gaultier) for Taylor (HT)
20: Ronan Elliffe (Rathgormack) for Cronin (41)
17: Liam Motherway (Shamrocks) for Keane (53)
24: Jack Fitzgerald (Gaultier) for Boyce (53)
19: Kieran Crawford (Shamrocks) for Walsh (53)
Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick)
