By Darragh O’Flynn
New Clare boss Mark Fitzgerald secured his first competitive win as Banner manager with a comfortable 17-point victory in a crisp, bright Lemybrien.
McGrath Cup Group B Round 2
Clare 3-18 Waterford 1-7
New incoming Waterford boss Paul Shankley didn’t get off to the perfect start when the away side dominated the start when Dermort Coughlan raised a green flag after 5 minutes thanks to a breakdown in passing in the Déise defence. The home side couldn’t handle full-forward Aaron Griffin in the opening 15 minutes, as he scored four points in a row to stretch Fitzgerald’s side lead from 1-5 to 0-2.
Waterford responded with a point from Stephen ‘Gooch’ Curry and got a chance to reduce the deficit back to two points when captain Liam Fennell was dragged down in the penalty area, leaving referee Brian Fleming no option but to award a penalty. Up stepped his Rathgormack clubmate Jason Curry, but his spot kick was brilliantly denied by Stephen Ryan, who used his gigantic frame to parry away the shot heading into the bottom left corner.
That close call woke The Banner as they responded with scores from Coughlan, Griffin, Diarmuid O’Donnell and a double from centre-back Alan Sweeney to head into the break leading 1-10 to 0-4.
Clare showed the gulf in class between the two sides in the final 10 minutes of the game when they raised two further green flags. The first goal came from what looked like a lost cause, but the hard-working Shane Griffin got a toe on the loose ball to the free-roaming O’Brien, who left Paudie Hunt with no chance in the goals.
The third goal, when Fitzgerald’s side swiftly moved in the counterattack, carving the centre of the Waterford defence like a knife through butter, allowed sub-Cian Burke to lay off the ball to the free Coughlan to secure his second goal of the game.
Waterford did manage a consolation goal from Stephen Curry, but they will despair over 13 wides.
Clare Scorers: A. Griffin 0-7 (0-1 frees), D. Coughlan 2-1 (0-1 frees), D. O’Brien 1-1, J. Curran 0-3, A. Sweeney 0-2, D. O’Donnell, S. Griffin, T. McDonald and D. Fahy 0-1 each.
Waterford Scorers: S. Curry 1-2, J. Curry 0-2 (0-2 frees), C. Maguire, M, Curry, N. McSweeney 0-1 each
Teams
CLARE: S. Ryan; M. Doherty, J. Guyler, R. Lanigan; M. Garry, A. Sweeney, G. Murray; D. Walsh, B. McNamara; D. O’Brien, T. McDonald, D. Coughlan; S. Griffin, A. Griffin, D. O’Donnell Subs E. Casey for D. Walsh (27), T. O’Callaghan for S. Ryan & J. Curran for B. McNamara (both HT), K. Malone for G. Murray (40), C. McMahon for M. Garry (45), E. O’Connor for J. Guyler & D. Fahy for D. O’Donnell (49), C. Burke for A. Sweeney (54), M. Garry for M. Doherty (60)
WATERFORD: P Hunt; R Browne, C Walsh, C McCarthy; C Ò’Cuirrìn, M Curry, L Fennell; J Curry, J Keane; C Maguire, N McSweeney, J Sheehan; B Hynes, D Fitzgerald, S Curry. Subs: J. Power for J. Sheehan, A. Dunwoody for D. Fitzgerald & J. Walsh for C. Maguire (HT), C. MacCraith for C. Ó Cuirrín & R. McGrath for L. Fennell (44) S. Cullinane for J. Keane (52), M. Kiely for N. McSweeney (57 ), M. O’Brien for R. Browne (60)
Referee Brian Flemming (Kerry)
PICTURED: Aaron Griffin. Photo by Gerard O’Neill
