Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Group A Round 3

CLARE 1-24 WATERFORD 2-19

By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park

A powerful eight point second half turnaround secured a first victory of 2023 for Clare but, without pucking a ball, it was their neighbours Tipperary who were the real winners after the result saw them advance to next Sunday’s Munster Hurling League Final.

With Waterford requiring a win or draw to bridge a 12 year gap to their last final appearance, Davy Fitzgerald’s return to Cusack Park wouldn’t go quite according to plan. Level on four times by the 32nd minute, Waterford hit the front with a Michael Kiely point followed by a timely injury-time penalty goal for chief marksman Stephen Bennett to carve out a 1-8 to 0-7 half-time advantage.

Indeed, with clear momentum behind them, the visitors resumed with the first two points though Kiely and Bennett to open up a six point cushion by the 37th minute.

The home response would be decisive though as they moved through the gears to outscore the Deise by 1-17 to 1-9 for the remaining 30 minutes in what would be a remarkable sea-change in proceedings.

Aidan McCarthy and Mark Rodgers would be Clare’s sole scorers in the first half but encouragingly eight more would join in on the scoring action in a much more entertaining second period.

Mark Rodgers (3), Aidan McCarthy (3) and Paddy Donnellan (2) initially led the charge to reel in Waterford by the turn of the final quarter at 0-16 to 1-13 before senior debutants Keith Smyth (2) and Gearoid O’Grady along with a late goal from substitute Aron Shanagher boosted the Banner five clear by the 66th minute.

That cushion would be short-lived as Michael Kiely’s batted rebound to the net immediately cancelled out that goal. However, Clare refused to yield as injury-time points through Aidan McCarthy, David Fitzgerald and Shanagher ensured that Clare finished the Munster League on a high.

Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy (0-10, 6f, 2’65); Mark Rodgers (0-4); Aron Shanagher (1-1); Paddy Donnellan, Keith Smyth (0-2 each); Ian Galvin, Gearoid O’Grady, Davy Conroy, David McInerney, David Fitzgerald (0-1 each)

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett (1-8, 1-0 Pen, 6f); Michael Kiely (1-3); Padraig Fitzgerald (0-2); Darragh Lyons, Patrick Curran, Kevin Mahony, Shane McNulty, Reuben Halloran, Jamie Barron (0-1 each)

CLARE: Eamonn Foudy; Darragh Lohan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Brandon O’Connell, David McInerney, Cian Galvin; Paddy Donnellan, Diarmuid Ryan; David Fitzgerald, Davy Conroy, Aidan McCarthy; Mark Rodgers, Keith Smyth, Ian Galvin. Subs: Paul Flanagan for Lohan (16, inj), Jack Kirwan for I. Galvin (49), Gearoid O’Grady for Rodgers (54), Cathal Malone for Donnellan (56), John Conneally for Ryan (59), Aron Shanagher for Smyth (65), Aaron Fitzgerald for O’Connell (67), Mike Gough for Hayes (68), Oisin O’Donnell for Conroy (70)

Waterford: Shaun O’Brien; Carthach Daly, Iarlaith Daly, Conor Ryan; Micheál Harney, Jack Fagan, Shane McNulty; Paddy Leavey, Darragh Lyons; Aaron Ryan, Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett; Padraig Fitzgerald, Michael Kiely, Kevin Mahony. Subs: Jamie Barron for Ryan (48), Reuben Halloran for Curran (48), Jack Prendergast for Mahony (60), Tom Barron for Harney (67)

Referee: Simon Stokes (Cork)