National Hurling League/Division One A: Clare 0-16; Waterford 0-15: With the early April heatwave came the signs. Clare and Waterford, a rivalry still shimmering with innuendo, advertised the nearing of the annual hurling carnival in what was a frantic, enjoyable encounter at Cusack Park.
Clare won, thanks to the composure of the usual suspects, but left an abiding impression that they still have some distance to travel before ironing their shirts for the forthcoming Munster championship.
They will be thankful to have next Sunday's quarter-final against Limerick. Waterford's stop-start league campaign closed in full-blooded fashion and they departed for the south east tipping a hat to three wonderful saves by Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald that preserved the books in the home team's favour.
"An average goalkeeper, you know, would not have got to those. But Davy's the best in the business," noted Waterford manager Justin McCarthy when it was all over.
"Overall, we were a bit unlucky, could have maybe got a draw or even won by a point. But we learned things about ourselves out there as well today."
It wasn't a characteristic day for the visitors, with Tony Browne subdued and Paul Flynn's scoring contribution marginal. It was the rampaging Ken McGrath who led by example and after a stuttering first half, Waterford's defence stonewalled Clare for much of the final 35 minutes.
Tom Feeney ended Tony Carmody's influence around the square, and Brian Flannery and James Murray were impeccable either side of him while Fergal Hartley and substitutes Brian Greene gobbled up everything Clare fired at them.
That defensive reformation was the foundation for the 20 minutes in which Waterford had Clare on the rack. Clare were up 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time - a poor reflection on Clare's dominance - and were under siege as Waterford came hurtling back at them.
"We just went stone cold after half-time," opined Clare manager Cyril Lyons afterwards.
"In some respects, we were lucky to win the match. We created opportunities but I suppose we were a little bit indecisive in the first half. In the end, it was the experienced players who took us through."
In the white heat, the old notables stood up. James O'Connor, on the run, close to the sideline, landed a princely score on 61 minutes with the scores at 0-14 a piece. Then Ollie Baker, just minutes off the bench, bore down on a loose Waterford clearance and steadily fired another. Those scores were enough.
In defence, Frank Lohan trailed McGrath in the crucial closing minutes, and Joe Considine had a heavily-influential day, sweeping up around centrefield and delivering thoughtful ball forward.
Fitzgerald's input was central though. In the ninth and 12th minutes, Waterford turned Clare's back three and snap shots from both Eoin Kelly and John Mullane - with a beautiful, one handed flick - brought reminders of Fitzgerald's astonishing sharpness. His next deflection was on 37 minutes, when Paul Flynn burst into a clearing and demanded a stretching save that had the crowd of 7,000 crowd gasping.
While those goals might have swung it for Waterford, Clare were hardly economical overall. They failed to build on the early stage when Tony Carmody had free reign in front of goal.
O'Connor was marvellous during the early stages, clipping a pair of points from play that were typically neat and reviving. Colin Lynch made himself busy if not the effervescent presence of other days and was replaced along with young Andrew Quinn after the pair had combined to produce a nice point on 49 minutes.
"We had some young players in today, that's what the league is for. You don't become accomplished unless you gain the experience. We treated this as just another game today and we will do the same next week. We are glad of it," said Lyons.
But while Carmody is a natural ball winner and forwards Alan Markham, John Reddan and Tony Griffin are all athletic and courageous, it seems to remain O'Connor's responsibility to create the extra spark and dash.
The anticipated return of Niall Gilligan notwithstanding, there is a feeling that some elemental goal poaching, an instinct for scoring, is required by Clare.
"We treated this as just another game today and we will do the same next week. We are glad of it." - Cyril Lyons
"There were occasions when we had possession and were caught between knowing whether to pass and shoot. When that happens, the move isn't long breaking down and the chance goes," explained Lyons.
Waterford also have weighty issues to settle. The nomadic Tony Browne did not benefit from his realignment to midfield and the left flank of Flynn and Mullaney was skilful but too light.
They are strong down the centre, with big Andy Maloney finding space for two scores and generally causing bother. The introduction of Eoin McGrath was revelatory and his gallop-and-pass for Ken McGrath's 52nd-minute point, which gave Waterford a brief lead, was a game highlight.
Clare, though, applied that inexorable will of theirs and just found a way to win. Inconsistent as it may have been, it offers an important extension to their league.
"Limerick are one of the form teams, they are up and coming and to get a game against them is brilliant for us at this stage," said Seánie McGrath after the pairings became apparent.
Waterford will go undercover and emerge some weeks down the line for their moment of truth against Cork.
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; K Kennedy, B Lohan, F Lohan; C Forde, S McMahon (0-2, frees), C Plunkett; C Lynch (0-1), J Considine; T Griffin (0-1), J Reddan (0-2), J O'Connor (0-5, two frees); A Markham, T Carmody (0-2), A Quinn (0-1). Subs: C Harrison for C Plunkett (half-time); O Baker (0-1) for C Lynch (50 mins); G Considine for A Quinn (50), G Quinn for A Markham (60); C Clancy for G Considine (68).
WATERFORD: S Brenner; T Feeney, J O'Connor, B Flannery; T Browne, F Hartley, J Murray; E Kelly, P Queally; P Flynn (0-2, free, 65), K McGrath (0-8, 4 frees, 2 65), E Murphy; J Mullane (0-1), A Moloney (0-2), S Prendergast (0-2). Subs: B Greene for J O'Connor (half-time); D Bennett for J Mullane (43 mins); D Shanahan for T Browne (47); P Fitzgerald for P Queally (62).
Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary).
