Clare 1-10 Waterford 0-10:A GOAL from substitute David O'Connor proved to be the crucial difference between the teams yesterday at the Ardmore Club grounds.

O’Connor, who plays for St Brigids in Dublin, recently switched his inter-county allegiances to Clare under the parentage rule, struck from close range in the 43rd minute.

He collected a pass from Rory Donnelly and gave Tom Wall in the Waterford goal no chance with an emphatic finish.

Waterford did have a good opportunity to cancel O’Connor’s goal out just short of the three -quarter mark in the game when Tommy Prendergast collected a Michael Donnelly 45 which fell short but saw his piledriver flash just wide of the far post.

While Waterford did have chances in the second half to send the game to extra-time or even win the game, some poor shooting in front of goal proved costly.

CLARE:Joe Hayes; L Healy, B Duggan, M McMahon; Graham Kelly, Gordon Kelly, John Hayes, C Ryan, C O'Connor (0-3); D Daly, D Tubrity (0-2, one free), N Browne (0-1); R Donnelly (0-1), T Ryan, A Clohessy (0-3, two frees). Subs:G Fannin for Graham Kelly, D O'Connor (1-0) for C Ryan, A Cahill for R Ryan, D O'Neill for N Browne.

WATERFORD:T Wall; K Connery, T O'Gorman, J Hurney; E Walsh, S Briggs, J Phelan; T Prendergast, B Phelan; M Donnelly, K Power (0-1) , B Wall; JJ Hutchinson, P Hurney (0-3, one free), P Whyte (0-1). Subs.S Fleming (0-2) for K Power, M Ahearne for JJ Hutchinson, W Hennessy for P Whyte, J Veale for M Donnelly (0-3, three frees).

Referee:D O'Mahony (Tipperary).