Munster SHC Round Two: Waterford 2-23 Clare 0-21
It would be overly simplistic to categorise this game as being all about the two second half goals for Waterford, because while they were huge scores in the context of the contest, Waterford were deserving winners owing to their greater consistency and clinical shooting over the course of the 76 minutes of play.
The mood in the Clare sections of Walsh Park was one of trepidation from the outset with the news that All Ireland winning captain Tony Kelly was to miss out on the game, with illness preventing the Ballyea maestro from even being in attendance.
His absence, along with the sight of Conor Cleary, Diarmuid Ryan and Shane O’Donnell in their tracksuits in the stand, meant the Banner were without key leaders and All Stars, and while it was not used an excuse, it most certainly would prove to be a factor.
Waterford set the tone early with Stephen Bennett, Jamie Barron and Darragh Lyons being the chief drivers of the Deise surge, as they raced into an 0-11 to 0-5 lead with by the 21st minute, aided by a swirling breeze in the south-east.
Clare’s radar was off throughout the contest, with free-taking proving to be an issue in the opening half in particular where just one of three opportunities were converted.
Despite playing second fiddle for most of the opening period, Clare were well in touch with the elements to come and trailed by 0-10 to 0-7 at the break.
A 43rd minute decision by referee Chris Mooney to award what looked like a soft penalty to Waterford resulted in Bennett firing home, and when Patrick Curran added another white flag, the home side led by 1-15 to 0-11.
Clare did rattle off the next four scores unanswered through David Reidy (2), Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor, and with 56 minutes on the clock, just three points separated the sides.
A defensive mix up under a ball held up in the wind would prove costly, as Bennett marked his 100th appearance for Waterford with his second goal of the game, and it was a score that seemed to take the wind out of Clare’s sails, despite it being at their backs.
Bennett finished the game with a personal tally of 2-8 with Barron (4) and Lyons (3) also contributing handsomely to their total.
David Reidy top scored for Clare with 0-6, while Peter Duggan, Shane Meehan and Ryan Taylor all chipping in with 0-4.
The result means that Clare will now have to beat Tipperary in Ennis to stay in this years championship on Saturday May 10th, with a final round tie to come against Limerick a fortnight later at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
