*Conor Burke. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
BACK to back wins have been recorded by Clare’s minor footballers, the latest seeing them overcome Waterford by twelve points.
Clare 1-22
Waterford 1-10
Venue: Páirc Naomh Brid in Lemybrien
It may be difficult to fathom wondering that a Conor Burke-inspired Clare, despite keeping up their end of the bargain with commanding back-to-back victories, are still not guaranteed a place in the Daryl Darcy Cup Final following their latest triumph in Páirc Naomh Brid in Lemybrien.
With Limerick bouncing back superbly to lower Tipperary, it means that Joe Hayes’ side still have to get something out of their final round showdown away to the Premier County in a fortnight’s time just to maintain their Phase 1 title defence.
That’s for another day though as this one emphatically belonged to a well-organised Banner side that effectively had the game won after only a third of the hour when soaring to a 1-10 to 0-00 advantage. Cathal McNamara’s interception from a kick-out in only the ninth minute ensuring a settling goal on his way to a handsome tally of 1-4 but unquestionably the player of the hour was the aforementioned Burke who soared to a remarkable and surely historic haul of 17 points that included a brace of superb two-point first half frees to end this tie as a contest before it had even started.
It means that the Kilmurry Ibrickane marksman has an average of 15 points per game while McNamara, Shane Cahill, tireless midfielders Donncha O’Dwyer and Ruben Fallon and Danny Lyne were others to excel in another impressive performance.
It wasn’t flawless though as a third quarter lull did allow Waterford to slash the arrears below double figures thanks in the main to an opportunist Aaron Curran goal at 1-14 to 1-05.
However, an excellent Cathal McNamara two-pointer allied to six additional singles from the unerring Burke quelled any further shreds of revolt to run out comprehensive twelve point victors.
Despite an arduous six hour round trip to West Waterford, Clare couldn’t have asked for a more ideal start as an even start possession-wise evaporated once Burke scored the first four points including an eighth minute two-point free after fellow ‘Bricks club-mate Ajay Daly was fouled.
Home goalkeeper Darragh Walsh’s short restart was astutely anticipated by Ballyvaughan native McNamara who soloed through before firing low to the left corner at 1-4 to 0-0.
Indeed, the away side could have even doubled their goal bounty soon afterwards when McNamara’s point attempt dropped short but Eoin Murphy didn’t realise how much time he had as instead of collecting the ball and firing to the net, he instinctively opted for a first-time volley that just screwed wide of the left post.
Instead, Clare made up the ground with the next six points through Kilmurry Ibrickane duo Daly and Burke (5), the latter arrowing over his second two-point free to extend his side’s gap to 13 entering the second quarter.
Having been camped in their half predominantly due to the visitor’s superiority from kick-outs, Waterford did finally open their account in the 25th minute through midfielder Ronan O’Hora but it would be matched by McNamara and Burke as Clare went in 1-12 to 0-02 in front.
If there was any solace for the Deise, it was that they would have the slight wind advantage for the new half, with Eddie O’Reilly coming closest to grabbing a lifeline goal within two minutes of the throw-in.
McNamara and Burke would subsequently extend the cushion to 14 but Waterford did manage to find their feet as the third quarter developed and they would be rewarded at the two-thirds mark when Ronan O’Hora’s shot for a point fell short perfectly for Aaron Curran to guide to the far left corner of Oisin Tierney’s net.
It would merely be a blip though as Clare simply dusted themselves down, brought on fresh legs from the bench and got some superb leadership from captain Donncha O’Dwyer and the outstanding Conor Burke who took his total to 29 points in just two matches with Clare’s last five points.
Scorers for Clare: Conor Burke 0-17 (2tpf, 8f); Cathal McNamara 1-4 (1tp); Ajay Daly (0-1)
Scorers for Waterford: Tom Lynch 0-3, (1f); Aaron Curran 1-0; Paul Bagnall, Jake Kearney 0-2 each; Ronan O’Hora, Eddie O’Reilly, Oisin Hallahan (f) 0-1 each
Clare
1: Oisin Tierney (Corofin)
3: Aidan O’Connell (Éire Óg)
4: James Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
2: Cian Corry (Cooraclare)
5: Eoin Murphy (Cooraclare)
6: Shane Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
7: Ajay Daly (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
8: Donncha O’Dwyer (St Breckan’s)
9: Ruben Fallon (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
10: Liam Keane (Lissycasey)
11: Jack O’Loughlin (St Breckan’s)
12: Danny Lyne (Éire Óg)
13: Conor Burke (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
14: Liam Casey (Kildysart)
15: Cathal McNamara (St Breckan’s)
Subs
22: Ollie Sherlock (Cratloe) for Casey (40)
19: Rian O’Neill (St Breckan’s) for Murphy (43),
18: Aaron Kelly (Cratloe) for Keane (43)
20: TJ Moore (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for O’Loughlin (54)
23: Michael Normoyle (St Breckan’s) for McNamara (56)
Waterford
1: Darragh Walsh (Dungarvan)
4: Jessie Kiely (Rathgormack)
2: Hugh Scanlan (Geraldines)
3: Andrew Ryan (The Nire)
10: Senan Devine (Kilgobnet)
6: Corey Lyons (Dungarvan)
7: Senan Woods-Wyse (St Saviour’s)
8: Aaron Curran (Stradbally)
9: Ronan O’Hora (Kilgobnet)
19: Ciaran Sullivan (Newtown)
11: Eddie O’Reilly (Gaultier)
12: Callum Royle (Brickey Rangers)
13: Oisin Hallahan (Dungarvan)
14: Tom Lynch (Rathgormack)
15: Ronan Sullivan (Newtown)
Subs
21: Paul Bagnall (Tramore) for R. Sullivan (23, inj)
5: Michael Barry (Tramore) for C. Sullivan (36)
18: Jake Kearney (Colligan) for O’Reilly (40)
23: Sam Roberts (St Saviour’s) for Devine (43)
22: Paul O’Gorman (Tramore) for O’Hora (53)
Referee: Brian Crowley (Cork)
