Clare 1-24
Waterford 0-9
Tomas McCarthy reports from Cusack Park, Ennis
DESPITE STRIKING 17 wides, the Clare minor hurlers romped to victory over Waterford at Cusack Park tonight in the Electric Ireland Munster quarter-final.
The Banner shot 1-16 without reply either side of the break to advance to the semi finals at the end of June. Midfielder Keith White played a starring role with 0-6 from play and received the biggest cheer of the evening when he was substituted near the finish. Sub Colin Haugh smashed home a late goal as ten Clare players nabbed scores.
Waterford failed to raise a flag for 34 minutes and goalkeeper Eoghan Browne from Mount Sion pulled off three fine saves to limit the damage. James Lacey’s team now travel to Cork for a play-off clash in a fortnight.
Midfielder White was responsible for four Clare points in the opening half as the hosts finished strongly to earn a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage.
In front of 1,622 spectators, the Banner opened brightly but the visitors overtook their opponents with four points on the trot including a Billy Power brace. Browne also batted away a seventh minute goal attempt by Breffnie Horner.
Four Power singles, two frees and two from play, left Waterford 0-7 to 0-5 ahead after 23 minutes. Sean Doyle’s Clare charges responded as Lee Brack (free), White, Tiernan Agnew and Diarmuid Ryan all claimed singles before the interval. The leaders also posted nine wides.
The gap increased to seven points by the close of the third quarter. Brack added two more with Conor Tierney, Agnew and Gearoid Cahill also among the point scorers for the Banner.
Browne saved close range shots from Cooney and White. With six minutes remaining, Rian Considine played in fellow replacement Haugh and the Ruan attacker crashed the sliotar to roof of the net.
Déise top scorer Billy Power ended their fallow period from a ’65 before captain Thomas Douglas tagged on an injury time consolation point.
Scorers for Clare: Keith White 0-6, Colin Haugh 1-1, Lee Brack 0-4 (3fs), Gary Cooney 0-3, Tiernan Agnew, Diarmuid Ryan, Cathal Darcy, Conor Tierney 0-2 each, Gearoid Cahill, Rian Considine 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Billy Power 0-5 (2fs, 1 65’), Thomas Douglas, Iarlaith Daly, Ian Beecher, Sean Crotty 0-1 each.
Clare
1. Eamon Foudy (Inagh Kilnamona)
2. Cian McInerney (Inagh Kilnamona)
3. Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
4. Conor Ferns (Wolfe Tones)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6. Cian Minogue (Bodyke)
7. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh Kilnamona)
8. Cathal Darcy (Kilmayley)
9. Keith White (Inagh Kilnamona)
10. Lee Brack (Clarecastle)
11. Gearoid Cahill (Corofin)
12. Conor Tierney (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
13. Tiernan Agnew (Sixmilebridge)
14. Gary Cooney (O Callaghan’s Mills)
15. Breffnie Horner (Crusheen)
Subs
19. Rian Considine (Cratloe) for Tierney (40)
20. Colin Haugh (Ruan) for Cahill (51)
21. Paul Corry (Sixmilebridge) for Brack (55)
17. Sean Crowley (Kilmihil) for Ferns (56)
18. Eoghan Wallace (Clarecastle) for White (59)
Waterford
1. Eoghan Browne (Mount Sion)
2. Conor Giles-Doran (De La Salle)
3. James Flavin (Ardmore)
4. Tadhg Foley (Ballygunner)
5. Mairtín Power (Clonea)
6. Luke O’Brien (Mount Sion)
7. Sean Whelan-Barrett (Abbeyside)
8. Iarlaith Daly (Lismore)
9. Ian Beecher (Tallow)
10. Ciarán Power (Clonea)
11. Sean Carton (De La Salle)
12. Tom Barron (Fourmilewater)
13. Tom Looby (Abbeyside)
14. Sean Crotty (Dungarvan)
15. Billy Power (Clonea)
Subs
20. Thomas Douglas (De La Salle) for Carton (40)
21. Niall O’Keeffe (Passage) for Looby (43)
18. Dan Booth (Colligan) for Crotty (47)
19. Conor Whelan (Brickey Rangers) for Barron (52)
22. Evan McGrath (Mount Sion) for Daly (56)
Referee: Jason Mullins (Limerick)
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