Clare 2-19
Waterford 3-13
FOURTEEN-MAN CLARE recorded their second victory of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League against an experimental Waterford team in Dungarvan this afternoon.
Two quick-fire blasts before half-time by Cathal Malone and Ben O’Gorman put the Banner in charge. Although they lost wing-back Brendan Bugler to a second yellow, three late John Conlon points kept Clare in the mix for a final berth.
The Banner made eight changes after the midweek loss to Limerick. The home line-up showed 17 alterations from the published team sheet.
In front of 884 spectators, DJ Foran and Eamonn Murphy raised early white flags to fire up Waterford. Clare rattled off five on the bounce, two from corner forward Conor O’Donnell, to lead 0-5 to 0-2.
The hosts regained the initiative on 14 minutes when Peter Hogan whipped past Patrick Kelly after a Jack Fagan assist. The Ballygunner forward added a second seven minutes later. He was hooked initially but found the far corner at the second attempt (2-5 to 0-7).
Three successive Clare points through Bobby Duggan, Peter Duggan and Aaron Cunningham shaved the arrears to one. Cathal Malone and Ben O’Gorman belted home two goals in as many minutes to send the visitors 2-11 to 2-7 ahead at the interval.
The Banner stretched six points away in the third quarter. Dead ball taker Billy Nolan registered Waterford’s first for 14 minutes. Patrick Kelly deflected a Stephen Roche stinger over the bar on 54 minutes as Derek McGrath’s side closed within three.
The visitors were then reduced to 14 players when Bugler received a second yellow. Four Nolan efforts left it 2-14 to 2-12. John Conlon ended a 25-minute wait for a Clare point and another single from the Clonlara man steadied the away team.
A monstrous Seamus Keating point and a goal by substitute Billy O’Keeffe in injury-time set up a close finish before Duggan converted his fourth free of the afternoon.
Scorers for Clare: Cathal Malone, Ben O’Gorman 1-1 each; John Conlon, Bobby Duggan (4fs) 0-4 each; Aaron Cunningham 0-3; Conor O’Donnell 0-2; Jason McCarthy, Shane Golden, Peter Duggan, Jamie Shanahan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Peter Hogan 2-0; Billy Nolan 0-6 (6fs); Billy O’Keeffe 1-0; DJ Foran, Eamonn Murphy 0-2 each; Stephen Roche, Seamus Keating, Jack Fagan 0-1 each.
Clare
1. Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona)
2. Shane McNamara (Clooney-Quin)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
4. Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle)
5. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
7. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
8. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
19. Ben O’Gorman (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
10. John Conlon (Clonlara)
9. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
12. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
13. Conor O’Donnell (Crusheen)
14. Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle)
15. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
Subs
24. David Reidy (Éire Óg) for Conlan (19)
10. John Conlon (Clonlara) for Malone (50)
18. Colm Galvin (Clonlara) for O’Gorman (57)
17. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge) for Peter Duggan (68)
22. Kevin Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Golden (72)
Waterford
1. Ian O’Regan (Mount Sion)
4. Callum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower)
3. Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
2. Charlie Chester (Roanmore)
5. Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan)
6. MJ Sutton (Ferrybank)
7. Seamus Keating (Ardmore)
8. Killian Fitzgerald (Passage)
9. Eoin Madigan (Roanmore)
10. Martin F O’Neill (Mount Sion)
11. DJ Foran (Portlaw)
12. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)
13. Peter Hogan (Ballygunner)
14. Jack Fagan (De La Salle)
15. Eamonn Murphy (Dunhill)
Subs
21. Colin Dunford (Colligan) for McNulty (HT)
22. Thomas Ryan (Tallow) for Fagan (HT)
18. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion) for Foran (48)
17. Billy O’Keeffe (Ballygunner) for Hogan (48)
24. Andy Molumby (Cappoquin) for Roche (59)
Referee: Joe Larkin (Cork)