Electric Ireland MHC Final: Impressive Waterford triumph

Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final

Waterford 1-18 Clare 0-11

By Tomás McCarthy at FBD Semple Stadium

Waterford are All Ireland minor hurling champions for the first time since 2013.

In front of 15,411 supporters, a superb first half performance saw the Déise claim their fourth title on a rainy Saturday evening in Semple Stadium.

Despite being clearly hampered by injury, Cormac Spain struck eleven points (four from play) as James O'Connor's men defeated Clare for the second time this season. The Ballygunner clubman was named man of the match. He has hit an astonishing 8-75 across nine games in the 2025 championship.

Corner back Darragh Keane was another standout performer. His defensive colleagues Darragh Murphy and Conor Lynch also kept the Banner attack at bay. Shane Power sent over three points from play. Chants of 'Waterford, Waterford,' rang out around Thurles as the white and blue fans invaded the pitch at full time, and captain James Comerford raised the Irish Press Cup.

On a misty evening, the Déise made a dream start. With just over a minute on the clock, Dylan Murphy ran onto a free from goalkeeper James Comerford and slipped a pass to Pierce Quann, who finished the ball low past Clare goalkeeper Leon Talty. A Cormac Spain free and a Shane Power point sent James O'Connor's men five in front after three minutes (1-2 to 0-0).

At the other end, Darragh Keane blocked down a Liam Murphy attempt at goal before Paul Rodgers converted a Clare free. Keane started impressively at corner back for Waterford and set up a score for Éanna McHugh.

Ben Talty pointed for Clare, after Rodgers played a quick free, and then Liam Murphy narrowed the gap to three. Worryingly for Waterford, top scorer Spain twice received treatment. His team mates stepped up. Tommy Kennedy opened the shoulders to strike a long distance point before Gearóid O'Shea nailed one in front of the Ryan Stand.

On 18 minutes, a Shane Power point effort struck the post and Spain was quickest to react. His close range blast was brilliantly deflected over the crossbar by Leon Talty. Spain was clearly struggling with injury but managed to add another point off a Bradley Penkert crossfield ball (1-7 to 0-3).

Like he did against Galway and Cork, Rodgers nailed a sideline cut for Clare. Murphy then whipped over when the ball dropped dangerously around the goalmouth. Even on one leg, Spain was an absolute menace at full forward. Four more points from Ballygunner ace and one from O'Shea gave Waterford a 1-12 to 0-5 half time advantage.

As the rain continued to teem down, two John Barry frees and an Ian O'Brien point cut the arrears to eight at the start of the second period. Waterford corner forward Dylan Murphy then won a free which Spain blasted over (1-13 to 0-8).

A superb diving block from Clare half back Evan Crimmins denied Jamie Shanahan a goal. In the tricky conditions, neither side managed a score for eleven minutes. Shane Power ended that barren spell with his second point of the evening. Spain spurned a goal opportunity, but a couple of frees from Waterford's chief marksman put the issue to bed. A Gearóid O'Shea block at one end led to a Spain point at the other which raised the roof in Semple Stadium.

Scorers for Waterford: Cormac Spain 0-11 (7fs), Pierce Quann 1-0, Shane Power 0-3, Gearóid O'Shea 0-2, Tommy Kennedy, Éanna McHugh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: John Barry 0-3 (3fs), Liam Murphy, Paul Rodgers (1f, 1 sideline) 0-2 each, Graham Ball (1f), Darragh Murrihy, Ian O'Brien, Ben Talty 0-1 each.

Waterford: James Comerford; Daragh Murphy, Conor Lynch, Darragh Keane; Bradley Penkert, Hugo Quann, Tommy Kennedy; Éanna McHugh, Gearóid O'Shea; Shane Power, Jack Power, Pierce Quann; Dylan Murphy, Cormac Spain, Jamie Shanahan.

Clare: Leon Talty; Jack O'Halloran, Niall Doyle, Zak Phelan; Evan Crimmins, Dara Kennedy, Colm Daly; Graham Ball, Evan Cleary; Rory Ralph, James O'Donnell, Ian O'Brien; Ben Talty, Paul Rodgers, Liam Murphy.

Subs: John Barry for Ralph (29), Gavin Marshall for Ben Talty (46), Darragh Murrihy for Cleary (52), Jake Gibbons for O'Donnell (61), Donncha Mahon for Murphy (63).

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).