John Conlon of Clare in action against Jack Prendergast, left, and PJ Fanning of Waterford during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Waterford and Clare at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
CLARE 0-20 WATERFORD 1-16
By Tomás McCarthy at Walsh Park
Aidan McCarthy struck eight points as Clare earned their first league win at Walsh Park since 2006. In front of 3,951 fans, two injury time efforts from the Banner full forward saw Brian Lohan's men scrape the narrowest of victories.
Midfielder Sean Rynne also shone for the visitors with two points from play. A late Waterford rally fell just short. Davy Fitzgerald's side lost 2020 All Star Stephen Bennett to injury in the second half. Conor Ryan and Sean Walsh impressed for the home team.
The Déise won the toss but elected to play against the wind. Sean Walsh opened the scoring for the hosts after just ten seconds. Aidan McCarthy replied within 30 seconds. Waterford joint captain Stephen Bennett converted three frees while Clare speedster Ian Galvin clipped over two from play at the other end.
On 12 minutes, a Shaun O'Brien short puckout found Paddy Leavy and the Ballygunner midfielder picked out Sean Walsh in the corner. The number fifteen billowed the far corner of the Clare net (1-4 to 0-3). Two goals in two league games for the Fourmilewater attacker.
The Banner quickly cancelled out that green flag with points from Patrick Crotty, Aidan McCarthy and Sean Rynne. Patrick Curran and Jack Prendergast put the home team a goal to the good by the end of the first quarter (1-6 to 0-6).
Bennett popped over two more frees to bring his first half tally to five but wind assisted Clare finished the half strongly. Two Cian Galvin points levelled up matters on 33 minutes (1-9 to 0-12). There was a feisty exchange in front of the main stand before referee Liam Gordon blew up for half time. All square at the break.
A free from Aidan McCarthy three minutes into the second period snuck the visitors ahead. Another McCarthy conversion along with Patrick Crotty and Sean Rynne points from play made it 0-16 to 1-9 to Brian Lohan's men.
The rain arrived at Walsh Park as Stephen Bennett sent over a free from his own 65 on 46 minutes. Patrick Curran added another long range point.
Stephen Bennett limped off injured after 52 minutes. He was replaced by his younger brother Shane. McCarthy slotted another free into the Keane's Road End. 0-17 to 1-11 in Clare's favour entering the final quarter. Banner sub Shane Meehan split the posts with his first touch.
Déise defender Conor Ryan cut the gap to three with his second point of the afternoon. A Clare mentor then received a yellow card from Liam Gordon. Waterford dropped two frees short. After Aidan McCarthy missed a free, Paddy Leavy lofted over a point. Shane Bennett sent a free wide for the hosts but made amends with a last minute effort (0-18 to 1-14).
In a grandstand finish, McCarthy hit back straight away before Darragh Lyons left just one in it again. McCarthy and Bennett traded injury time frees as time ran out on the home side.
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-8 (6fs), Sean Rynne, Ian Galvin, Cian Galvin, Patrick Crotty 0-2 each, Cathal Malone, David Fitzgerald, David Reidy, Shane Meehan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-6 (6fs), Sean Walsh 1-1, Patrick Curran, Conor Ryan, Shane Bennett (2fs) 0-2 each, Jack Prendergast, Paddy Leavy, Darragh Lyons 0-1 each.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Conor Leen, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; John Conlon, David McInerney, Cian Galvin; Cathal Malone, Sean Rynne; David Fitzgerald, Robin Mounsey, David Reidy; Ian Galvin, Aidan McCarthy, Patrick Crotty. Subs: John Conneally for Cleary (HT), Shane Meehan for Ian Galvin (48), Seadna Morey for Conlon (56), Gearoid Sheedy for Mounsey (56), Peter Duggan for Fitzgerald (66).
Waterford: Shaun O'Brien; Conor Ryan, Mark Fitzgerald, Ian Kenny; PJ Fanning, Tom Barron, Mairtin Power; Paddy Leavy, Neil Montgomery; Patrick Curran,Jack Prendergast, Michael Kiely; Sean Walsh, Stephen Bennett. Padraig Fitzgerald. Subs: Kevin Mahony for Padraig Fitzgerald (40), Shane Bennett for Stephen Bennett (52), Darragh Lyons for Kenny (58), Seamus Fitzgerald for Walsh (58)
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)