The Clare team that defeated Waterford in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football championship this evening.
Electric Ireland Munster MFC phase 1 round 1
Clare 1-11 Waterford 0-13
Tipperary 2-13 Limerick 0-10
By Stephen Barry
A stunning last-gasp goal from Conor Burke broke Waterford hearts as Clare emerged victorious from their opening group-stage clash at Quilty.
The Kilmurry-Ibrickane dangerman had already kicked eight points on his home patch before he sent Shane O’Connell away in the final seconds of stoppage time.
His electric pace got him into position to palm home the substitute’s return pass for a dramatic win, denying the Déise a first victory at this grade since 2019.
Waterford were led brilliantly by Joe Brennan (0-6) and Paddy McCarthy (0-3) but six frees, five from Burke, still had the hosts 0-6 to 0-5 ahead by half-time.
Three placed balls from Brennan pushed Waterford 0-10 to 0-7 in front and they maintained that lead as late as the 56th minute.
Clare levelled with a quick burst from Burke (2 frees) and O’Connell but Waterford had one more push via a Tom Lynch fisted point and a McCarthy free.
There was just enough time, however, for the Banner to grab the victory.
Over in Fethard, a superb 2-2 haul from midfielder Dylan Cotter powered Tipperary to victory over Limerick by nine points.
A trailblazer from the Thurles Gaels club, Cotter provided an impressive central pairing alongside Órán Gahan for a well-balanced Premier side.
Limerick would’ve gone in happy at half-time a point down and turning to benefit from the wind but Tipp crushed those hopes with a 1-5 to no-score third-quarter burst.
Gahan and Cotter began with a trio of soaring marks to retain their first three kick-outs as Gahan excelled in the role of supplier, adding four assists across the hour.
Cotter’s first goal came in the fourth minute after his initial attempt was saved by Stephen Kearney.
It was a game which featured a fine display of left-footed kicking from both teams. Centre-back Tom Corcoran landed two points for Tipp and Shane Dolan converted 0-5 for Limerick before two huge punts from Rory Mullins and Donal Dawson levelled the game.
Hometown hero Charlie Walsh, who finished with four points, made it 1-5 to 0-7 at the change of ends.
Tipp were re-energised into the wind. They pressed the restart with renewed vigour, kicked well into the space, and didn’t shoot a wide for the next 23 minutes.
They fired the next 1-5 to double their tally, with the goal finished by Cotter from Ciarán Kelly’s pass. He bookended that green flag with two points and Jamal Yousif added another pair, either side of forcing Kearney into another save.
Limerick had two goal chances to get back into the contest but Rian McNamara sliced over and Cillian McNamara cracked the crossbar.
