*Shane Cahill delivers the ball under pressure from Cian Power. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
IT’S now must-win territory from here on in for Clare’s minor footballers after getting lost in the fog of a powerful Waterford performance on Monday evening.
Waterford 0-13
Clare 0-10
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Despite a thick covering of fog that enveloped West Clare from the afternoon, four successive victories over the Déise were washed away by the determined visitors who never took a backstep over the entire hour.
The key to victory for Brendan Kearney’s side was their more efficient shooting and most significantly a middle third dominance over their frustrated hosts. Towering midfielders Theo Meagher and Tomás Walsh ruled almost two-thirds of all kick-outs, the perfect platform to build a first victory over the Banner since 2019.
While Clare passed up early goal sightings for Zac O’Shea and Shane Cahill, unerring freetaker Dara Gough split the posts with a two point free that took until the end of the opening quarter to repair through Rian Cotter and Robbie Kelly.
That pattern would be replicated when a further brace of Gough frees were equalled by Liam Keane and Sean O’Callaghan at 0-4 to 0-4 by the 24th minute.
That satisfactory position would be dashed within three minutes as a second Gough two-point free was bookended by Peter Murray and Enda Bloomer to boost Waterford to a double scores 0-8 to 0-4 interval cushion.
Half-time came at a perfect time to regroup and Clare did respond effectively with Liam Keane (2) and Sean O’Callaghan slashed the arrears to just one by the 35th minute. That would be as good as the recovery got for Joe Hayes’ side though as they failed to add to their tally for another 15 minutes by which time the Déise had carved out their biggest advantage of the hour.
The lively Ronan Kirwan, Gough and midfield giants Meagher and Walsh stretched the gap to five at 0-12 to 0-07 as the tie entered the final quarter.
The result could have been put beyond any doubt, only for Siney Neenan to somehow scramble a Kirwan flick off the line, a save that would be magnified when O’Callaghan arrowed over a much-needed two-pointer for the hosts in the 50th minute at 0-12 to 0-09.
Unfortunately there would be no grandstand finish though as despite emptying the bench and throwing everything in their armoury at the leaders, Clare would slumped to double figure wides and never looked like grabbing an elusive equalising goal.
Now on the backfoot, the Banner haven’t much time for introspection or wound licking as they have only a seven day turnaround to their trip to Mountcollins where they face a buoyant Limerick who saw off Tipperary by five points on Sunday.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers for Waterford: Dara Gough 0-7 (2tpf, 3f); Peter Murray 0-2; Enda Bloomer, Ronan Kirwan, Theo Meagher, Tomás Walsh 0-1 each
Scorers for Clare: Liam Keane 0-4 (2f), Sean O’Callaghan 0-4 (1tp), Rian Cotter 0-1 Robbie Kelly 0-1
Waterford
1: Jack Sheehan (Kilgobinet)
2: Arlo McManus (Tramore)
3: James Skehan (Rathgormack)
4: Cian Power (Portlaw)
5: Shay Healy (Geraldine’s)
6: Eoin Keane (Stradbally)
7: Liam O’Grady (Gaultier)
8: Theo Meagher (Portlaw)
9: Tomás Walsh (The Nire)
10: Enda Bloomer (Gaultier)
11: Aidan McMaugh (The Nire)
12: Peter Murray (Rathgormack)
13: Dara Gough (Stradbally)
14: Rian Hallahan (Dungarvan)
15: Ronan Kirwan (Rathgormack)
Subs
17: Charlie Kelly (Geraldine’s) for Hallahan (54),
23: Caolan Johnson (Gaultier) for McMaugh (59)
18: Fionan Murray (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty) for Kirwan (62)
Clare
1: Conor Griffin (Ennistymon)
4: Caelum Killeen (Lissycasey)
3: Siney Neenan (Kildysart)
2: Tristan O’Loughlin (St. Breckan’s)
5: Darren Fitzpatrick (St. Breckan’s)
6: Shane Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
7: Jack Lavin (Ennistymon)
8: Zac O’Shea (Doonbeg)
9: Paddy Neylon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Rian Cotter (Kilrush Shamrocks)
11: Robbie Kelly (Kildysart)
12: Daniel Healy (Liscannor)
13: Michael Normoyle (St. Breckan’s)
14: Liam Keane (Lissycasey)
15: Sean O’Callaghan (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
Subs:
20: John Greene (Corofin) for Healy (HT)
23: Steven O’Neill (Éire Óg) for Lavin (41)
24: Thomas Dillon (Doonbeg) for O’Shea (44)
18: Tadhg Bane (Banner) for Neylon (51)
21: Iarla Byrne (St. Breckan’s) for Fitzpatrick (54)
Referee: Brian Crowley (Cork)
