Clare 0-9 Waterford 0-7:IN AN uninspired and dull affair yesterday at Cusack Park, Ennis, Clare recorded a two-point win over Waterford in the Munster football championship.
Clare, under new management this season, were eager to avenge last season's defeat to the same opposition at Dungarvan at the same stage. Frank Doherty's side put in a tenacious second-half performance and David Connole, who has to sit his Leaving Cert shortly, gave his all for this Clare win.
But in truth this was an uninspired display by both sides with Clare exhibiting a slightly greater hunger after the break.
With the teams deadlocked at seven points apiece going into injury-time, Clare took the game by the scruff of the neck and a pair of points by free-taker David Tubridy and a Stephen Hickey effort sealed victory.
Waterford had to play with 14 men from the 63rd minute, as corner back Justin Walsh received his marching orders on a second yellow when he pulled down Clare's John Hayes while in an attacking position.
From the off Clare looked sharper and with the aid of a strong breeze took an early lead with two pointed frees by talisman Tubridy.
Waterford were slow to settle but eventually matched their opponents on the scoreboard when Connie Power kicked two frees in the 11th and 17th minutes respectively.
It took until the 34th minute of a lacklustre contest for the first point from play when Waterford full forward Liam Ó Lionain's shot took a deflection off Clare goalkeeper Joe Hayes and sailed over the crossbar. Ger Quinlan and Hickey replied for Clare before the break to regain the lead, going in 0-4 to 0-3 in front.
From the restart, with the wind at their backs, Waterford took up the challenge but two bad wides early on maintained the game's poor standard. Wing back Hayes kicked a good Clare point before Power made it 0-5 to 0-4 with a 20-metre free in the 50th minute.
Waterford opened a two-point gap by the 62nd minute when Power converted two more frees and team-captain Gary Hurney landed another.
But a resolute Clare regained parity soon after with two points by Tubridy, one from a placed ball and another from play. With the extra-man advantage Clare began to turn the screw and were rewarded in injury time with Tubridy's winning point after Hayes was fouled close to goal and Hickey's insurance score.
CLARE: Joe Hayes; D Connole, C Whelan (capt), G Kelly; N Considine, D Kelly, John Hayes (0-1); G Quinlan (0-1), G Brennan; D Russell, S Collins, A Clohessy; R Donnelly, S Hickey (0-2), D Tubridy (0-5, four frees). Subs: L Healy for D Kelly (25 mins), G Lyons for Clohessy (62 mins), C Dillon for Collins (72 mins).
WATERFORD: T Wall; J Walsh, J Steward, T O'Gorman; E Rockett, S Briggs, M O'Gorman; G Hurney (capt, 0-1), M Ahearne; A Hubbard, L Lawlor, P Hurney; B Wall, L O'Lionain (0-1), C Power (0-5, frees). Subs: T Grey for B Wall (50 mins), S Kelly for Ahearne (72 mins).
Referee: A Mangan (Kerry).
