Waterford 6-9
Clare 4-12
WATERFORD SET UP a semi-final meeting with Cork after winning an incredible 10-goal thriller against Clare in this evening’s Munster minor football playoff at the Fraher Field in Dungarvan.
Both teams entered the game after losing their opening round ties – Waterford by four points against Tipperary and Clare by 15 points to Kerry – but Clare had bounced back defeating Limerick last week.
Yet Waterford prevailed on home soil tonight in a remarkable match. Joe Allen gave Waterford the perfect start when he found the net after just 12 seconds but that was cancelled out by a Darren Nagle goal just before the end of the opening quarter for Clare.
From there until half-time, Waterford dominated and banged in three goals to pull clear. Dylan Guiry shot home the first, Aaron Donnnelly added the second before Conor Prunty raised another green flag just before the interval. At the break the Deise enjoyed a 4-4 to 1-4 advantage.
Clare began their fightback early in the second-half with Keelan Sexton trying to inspire them when he netted. The Banner were then rocked by Prunty bagging his second goal of the game in the 44th minute.
But Clare responded strongly with Sexton and Evan Courtney firing home goals to crown a stunning comeback and tie the teams at 5-7 to 4-10.
However Waterford finished decisively with Allen hitting home their sixth goal in injury-time to round off a dramatic night’s football and set up a semi-final clash with Cork next month.
Waterford: Craig Brown; Ciaran O’Neill, Jack Guiry, Michael Cronin; Michael Shine, Edmond O’Halloran, Jack Mullaney; Cormac Curran Conor Prunty; Dylan Guiry, Conor Murray, Aaron Donnelly; Joe Allen, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons.
Clare: Killian Normoyle; Liam Tierney, Pearse Lillis, Conor Downes; Cian O’Dea, Brian Cahill, Colm Pyne; Darren Nagle, James Woods; Maccen Byrne, Keelan Sexton, Niall McCarthy; Aidan Davidson, Evan Courtney, Liam Madigan.
Refere: David Grogan (Tipperary)
