Waterford 2-13
Clare 2-12
A HEROIC LAST minute save from goalkeeper Billy Nolan helped Waterford book their place in this year’s Electric Ireland Munster MHC final with victory in a pulsating semi-final tonight against Clare in Dungarvan.
Waterford looked firmly on course for the final when they lead by 1-6 to 0-0 in the early stages. With five members of last year’s All-Ireland minor winning team in their ranks, Waterford burst from the traps in the early stages and star man Patrick Curran found the net to give them an early boost.
Clare weathered that storm and worked their way into the game thanks to a brace of goals from their attacking talisman, Aaron Shanagher from the Wolfe Tones club.
But Waterford upped the ante before the interval with Shane Bennett grabbing the Deise’s second goal to see them in front by 2-8 to 2-1 by the midway mark.
Clare suffered a major blow after half-time with the sending-off of Michael O’Malley yet they recovered admirably through the excellent point taking of Colin Corbett.
The teams had drawn level at 2-11 apiece entering the finale but Waterford grabbed vital late points from Bennett and Curran while Nolan did his bit between the post to seal victory.
The result opens up Waterford’s season as they reach their fifth Munster minor hulring final in six years. They’ll know the identity of their opponents in that decider when Limerick take on Cork in tomorrow night’s semi-final encounter at the Gaelic Grounds.
