Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

WATERFORD 1-23 CLARE 1-20

By Tomás McCarthy at Walsh Park

Patrick Curran tallied 1-13 as 14 man Waterford secured their first Walsh Park victory since February 2016.

Austin Gleeson lifted the hosts out of their early slumber and Curran’s accuracy put them in control. Michael Kearney also delivered four points from play, including three in the second half. This rare home win wasn’t enough to take the Déise out of the relegation mire.

Clare couldn’t avoid a second straight defeat despite the best efforts of Tony Kelly. A last eight encounter with Limerick awaits next weekend.

Curran accounted for 1-7 as the Déise rebounded from six down to take a 1-13 to 1-10 lead to the dressing rooms. Against the elements, Clare charged 1-8 to 0-5 ahead inside the first quarter. Conor McGrath goaled from close range on 17 minutes.

Gleeson powered the Waterford recovery from centre back. Seven wind assisted singles in the space of nine minutes saw them overtake the Banner (0-12 to 1-8). Curran was responsible for five. Michael Kearney and Kevin Moran also raised white flags.

David Reidy levelled proceedings for the third occasion. Two minutes before the interval, Stephen Bennett bore down on the Clare goal but Conor Cleary executed a hook. Curran whipped the loose ball to the back of the net. A rousing Gleeson point in the third added minute left Derek McGrath’s team three to the good.

Two Tony Kelly efforts restored parity nine minutes into the second period. Curran and Kearney edged the hosts back in front. Peter Duggan and John Conlon promptly levelled it up again at 1-15 apiece.

Three Curran frees moved Waterford four points up entering the last 10. Kearney added two more. The introduction of Thomas Ryan, Tom Devine and Conor Prunty also energised the hosts.

Kelly’s fourth of the afternoon closed the gap to two. Conor Gleeson was sent off on a second yellow before Curran completed his takings three minutes into injury time. The Déise denied Duggan’s late attempt at an equaliser as they look forward to another trip to Leeside on St Patrick’s weekend.

Scorers for Waterford: Patrick Curran 1-13 (9fs), Michael Kearney 0-4, Stephen Bennett 0-2, Kieran Bennett, Conor Gleeson, Austin Gleeson, Kevin Moran 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Peter Duggan 0-5 (4fs), Conor McGrath 1-1, Tony Kelly 0-4, David Reidy 0-3, Ian Galvin, John Conlon 0-2 each, Seadna Morey, Cathal Malone, Shane O’Donnell 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Ian O’Regan; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny; Tadhg De Burca; Conor Gleeson, Austin Gleeson, Kieran Bennett; Mark O’Brien, Kevin Moran; Michael Walsh, Stephen Bennett, DJ Foran; Michael Kearney, Patrick Curran.

Subs: Thomas Ryan for Walsh (50), Tom Devine for Foran (50), Conor Prunty for O’Brien (54), Maurice Shanahan for Moran (60), Philip Mahony for Stephen Bennett (70).

CLARE: Donal Tuohy; Jack Browne, Conor Cleary, Patrick O’Connor; Seadna Morey, David McInerney, David Fitzgerald; Cathal Malone, Tony Kelly; Peter Duggan, John Conlon, David Reidy; Shane O’Donnell, Ian Galvin, Conor McGrath.

Subs: Michael O’Malley for Morey (52), Jamie Shanahan for O’Connor (60), Cathal McInerney for Malone (67), Ryan Taylor for Galvin (69), Eoin Quirke for Browne (70).

REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)