Clare have one foot in the semi finals of the Munster U20 hurling championship.
Goals in either half from Senan Dunford and Keith Smyth helped the Banner to a 2-26 to 0-18 win over Waterford in Fraher Field.
It was a first win over any of this years competing counties for Clare since 2015.
The result means that Clare will qualify for a semi-final spot if Limerick beat Tipperary next week, regardless of Clare’s result against Cork.
Meanwhile, Clare’s minor footballers got their year off to a perfect start.
A brace of goals from Gearoid Barry and one from Diarmuid McMahon saw them beat Waterford by 3-12 to 0-8 in the first game of the Phase One series.
Up next for Clare is a home tie with Tipperary before another trip to face Limerick.