Ten points was the difference as the Clare minor hurlers picked up their first win of the 2018 Munster championship.

Clare 3-21
Waterford 2-14
Venue: Cusack Park

After letting it slip in their first outing against Cork, Sean Doyle’s Clare finished well to overcome a Waterford side making their first appearance in this year’s championship.

Nothing separated the teams early on until Mark Rodgers was fouled inside the Waterford 21m line and Keelan Guyler dispatched the penalty to the back of the net on eight minutes. Dean Beecher was picking the sliotar out of the goal in the next attack as Rodgers was causing havoc once more, getting on the end of a Dylan McMahon free to bury to the roof of the net.

Waterford came back into the tie with a goal of their own as Caolan MacCraith finished off a move which began with a Beecher puckout on the fourteenth minute. The Déise hit two points on the bounce via Ciaran Keating and Aidan Organ to reduce the gap to three points.

Tulla’s William Halpin fired over two points with Rodgers and Shane Meehan getting one each while Waterford get the distance at three points with a treble of frees from Paddy Leevy and a single effort from Christopher Kavanagh leaving the half-time score at 2-09 1-09.

Clare were first out of the blocks on the resumption with three consecutive points, Waterford gave as good as they got with three white flags in response. The hosts began to push ahead and built a lead of seven points as the game entered the final ten minutes. Corner forward James Power gave Wateford a much needed lease of life when he capitalised on a sleeping Clare defence to beat Cillian O’Brien for their second goal of the game.

In the Cork defeat, Clare conceded six scores in a row at the finish to lose out but this time round they added the final four scores of the game, one of which included another Rodgers goal, to secure their first win of the championship.

Up front, Clare were electric, they had nine different players to register scores over the hour and caused Waterford’s problems. In particular Keelan Guyler and Mark Rodgers excelled while from the bench sixteen year old Conor Hegarty and Robin Mounsey were lively, between them they hit a combined six points. Defensively Sean Doyle’s side struggled at times, both of the opposing corner forwards raided for goals. However, when leaders were needed at the back, Clarecastle’s Darragh Healy certainly stood up.

This physically strong Waterford side are certainly capable of having a say in how the minor championship pans out. They will improve with the more games they play.

Clare:
1: Cillian O’Brien (Clonlara)

2: Jack Enright (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
3: Adam Mungovan (Doora/Barefield)
4: Mike Gough (Smith O’Briens)

22: Conor Carrig (Wolfe Tones)
6: Dylan McMahon (Clonlara)
7: Darragh Healy (Clarecastle) (0-03 3f)

10: Aidan Moriarity (Clonlara) (0-01)
9: Fionn Slattery (Bodyke)

14: Keelan Guyler (Inagh/Kilnamona) (1-04 3f 1’Pen)
11: Gearoid O’Grady (Kilmaley)
12: William Halpin (Tulla) (0-02)

13: Mark Rodgers (Scariff) (2-02)
17: Jack Minouge (Bodyke) (0-01)
15: Shane Meehan (Banner) (0-02)

Subs:
8: Jason Griffin (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Slattery (21)
18: Conor Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-03) for Minouge (40)
5: Tony Butler (Doora/Barefield) for Carrig (46)
21: Robin Mounsey (Ruan) (0-03) for O’Grady (50)
24: Paddy Donnellan (Broadford) for Enright (60)

Waterford:
1: Dean Beecher (Tallow)

4: Jack Ó Floinn (An Rinn)
3: Rory Furlong (Roanmore)
2: Gavin Fives (Cappoquin)

5: Sam Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
6: Cian Wadding (Roanmore)
7: Michael Kiely (Abbeyside)

9: Aidan Organ (Brickey Rangers) (0-02)
8: Ryan Tierney (Ferrybank)

10: Ciaran Keating (Ardmore) (0-02)
11: Paddy Leevy (Ballygunner) (0-07 6f)
12: Oisin O’Gorman (Lismore)

15: James Power (Clonea) (1-00)
14: Kevin Mahony (Ballygunner)
13: Caolan MacCraith (An Rinn) (1-01)

Subs: 22: Christopher Kennedy (Butlerstown) for Kiely (17) (Inj)
23: Sean Henley (Tallow) for Furlong (HT)
17: Oisin Ó Ceallaigh (An Rinn) (0-01) for O’Gorman (HT)
18: Gavin Corbett (Ballygunner) for Organ (50)

Referee: John McCormack (Tipperary)

Related News

personal injury claim 1
Newmarket-on-Fergus resident charged with giving false & misleading evidence in personal injuries action
treacys oakwood (1)
Curtain falls on fundraising concert series with final show for Laura Lynn
court yard lanters 1-2
Gort Arts to host exhibition at Kennedy studio for Culture Night
donna mcgettigan 1
Abnormal rental prices in Clare says McGettigan
Latest News
personal injury claim 1
Newmarket-on-Fergus resident charged with giving false & misleading evidence in personal injuries action
roisin considine liscannor 2
'I don't know when it will happen for Liscannor but hopefully it won't be much longer' - Considine
treacys oakwood (1)
Curtain falls on fundraising concert series with final show for Laura Lynn
cratloe v st josephs doora barefield 16-08-25 samuel costelloe podge collins 2
Semi-final pairings set for senior, intermediate & junior football championships
david speed mural killaloe 1-2
Salmon of knowledge mural unveiled in Killaloe
Premium
Banner book place in Clare IFC semi-finals for very first time
Clondegad cruise past Naomh Eoin to qualify for Clare IFC semi-finals
Cratloe claim victory over Ennistymon following extra-time excitement
Parish produce big second half pump to knock out Kilmurry Ibrickane
O'Currys relegated to Junior A ranks for first time since 95 following Ennistymon loss

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.