Munster U20 Football Championship Phase One: Clare 0-13 Waterford 0-6
Clare have gotten their Munster U20 football championship off to the perfect start after a battling win over Waterford in Lemybrien.
Michael Neylon’s side kicked the last four points of the contest as they moved themselves into early contention to advance to the next phase.
Clare led 0-6 to 0-3 at the half time break, but could have been further clear if they had been a bit more clinical in front of goal.
Sean Neylon’s opener and two Darren Keane frees saw the Banner in front by 0-3 to 0-2, but a run of three in a row from Conor Fennell, Odhran Cunningham and Josh Moloney saw that lead extended to four approaching the half time break.
Indiscipline cost Clare at times, with yellow cards picked up in defence meaning Waterford were becoming more confident in getting their running game going.
Another Waterford free reduced the margin to three by the short whistle.
Keane landed his third free soon after the restart but Waterford replied in kind to leave the tie finely balanced as a one score game.
At the end of the third quarter, that three point gap remained between the sides, but Waterford will rue a missed goal chance in that period, but Michael O’Brien did register their fifth point through the resultant “45 after a good save from Cian Corry.
Waterford were reduced to 14 men with ten minutes to play after midfielder Michael O’Sullivan picked up a second yellow card, and Clare made the most of it as Tom Curran marked his introduction by putting Clare 0-9 to 0-5 ahead.
Keane landed two more frees to take his tally to 0-6 for the evening and move Clare 0-11 to 0-5 in front with the game entering injury time.
Keane landed two more frees to take his tally to 0-6 for the evening and move Clare 0-11 to 0-5 in front with the game entering injury time.
Josh Moloney raided for his second point of the evening to move Clare seven in front, and the joint captain notched his third in response to Waterford’s final score to give the Banner a deserved win.