*Liam Murphy takes on Gearoid O’Shea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE’s minor hurlers came undone in their bid for All-Ireland glory against a superior Waterford side.
Waterford 1-17
Clare 0-10
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium
A fifth ever appearance in the All-Ireland minor final has ended in a ten point defeat for Clare.
There can be no complaints with the outcome, Waterford proving to be the superior side by some distance in this decider as they deservedly claimed the Irish Press Cup for the fourth time in their history and first since 2013.
Falling to a dreadful start by conceding a goal inside sixty seconds, Clare were playing catch-up from the off and their cause was not helped by falling five points adrift by the third minute.
They made it a one score approaching the second quarter but Waterford finished out the first half with five scores on the bounce to hold a ten point lead at the interval, the margin would be the same by the sounding of the final whistle.
Discipline dropped from Clare in the second half which hurt their bright start on the resumption as they scored three points in quick succession. The momentum was wiped with the concession of frees at both ends.
An attendance of 16,411 were in the famed Semple Stadium for the contest. The slow start was really costly for Clare who also missed two scoreable frees in the opening half.
James O’Connor and Waterford had their homework done and placed an emphasis on curbing the influence of danger men Paul Rodgers and Liam Murphy. Therefore it was essential that a new attacking threat stood tall in the Clare attack but the starting forward line in saffron and blue only scored four points from play over the course of sixty minutes.
At the other end, Cormac Spain excelled for Waterford, hitting eleven points over the hour while curtailed with a knee injury as he made the country take note of his name.
Physically Waterford appeared that bit stronger, they brought this power to their tackling in defence and attack with wing-backs Tommy Kennedy and Bradley Penkert of the Mount Sion club effective here and Kennedy also more than willing to shoot on goal.
Seven points was the closest Clare got to Waterford in the second half with the Déise sticking their task as they remained focus on the job at hand and even converted four of the final five scores.
Development has been the aim for Clare’s minor management led by Ger O’Connell and the aspiration remains for a handful of this panel to make the breakthrough at senior level, that is still a realistic goal despite the disappointment of the All-Ireland final showing.
On this occasion, Dara Kennedy and Zak Phelan were standout performers with Graham Ball, Evan Crimmins and Liam Murphy also working hard throughout. The final may have ended without Paul Rodgers scoring from play but the sixteen year old from Scariff has a big career ahead of him in saffron and blue.
Best for Waterford were Cormac Spain, Tommy Kennedy, Shane Power, Darragh Keane and Gearoid O’Shea. Captain James Comerford was presented with The Irish Press Cup by GAA President, Jarlath Burns following the game.
Scorers Waterford: C Spain (0-11 6f), P Quann (1-0), S Power (0-3), G O’Shea (0-2), E McHugh (0-1), T Kennedy (0-1)
Scorers Clare: J Barry (0-3 3f), P Rodgers (0-2 1f 1SC), L Murphy (0-2), B Talty (0-1), I O’Brien (0-1), D Murrihy (0-1).
Waterford
1: James Comerford (Ballygunner)
3: Darragh Murphy (St Mary’s East)
4: Darragh Keane (De La Salle)
2: Conor Lynch (Geraldines)
5: Bradley Penkert (Mount Sion)
6: Hugo Quann (Lismore)
7: Tommy Kennedy (Mount Sion)
8: Éanna McHugh (Roanmore)
9: Gearóid O’Shea (St Molleran’s)
12: Shane Power (De La Salle)
11: Jack Power (Ballygunner)
10: Pierce Quinn (Dungarvan)
13: Dylan Murphy (Roanmore)
14: Cormac Spain (Ballygunner)
15: Jamie Shanahan (Erins Own)
Subs:
Clare:
1: Leon Talty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
3: Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
2: Niall Doyle (Éire Óg)
4: Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge)
5: Evan Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
6: Dara Kennedy (Ballyea)
7: Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
9: Evan Cleary (Ballyea)
13: Ian O’Brien (Cratloe)
10: Rory Ralph (Clarecastle)
11: James O’Donnell (Broadford)
14: Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
15: Liam Murphy (O’Callaghans Mills)
12: Ben Talty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
Subs:
20: John Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Ralph (28)
21: Gavin Marshall (Parteen/Meelick) for B Talty (45)
17: Darragh Murrihy (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Cleary (51)
24: Jake Gibbons (Whitegate) for O’Donnell (60)
22: Donncha Mahon (Clooney/Quin) for Murphy (63)
Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).
