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As it happened: Clare v Waterford, Munster SHC semi-final

We went minute-by-minute as Davy Fitzgerald went in search of a victory against his old friends.

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Clare 1-18 Waterford 2-17

Hello, and welcome to our second GAA liveblog of the day.

We’re just over five minutes away from throw-in.

Here are the teams for today’s game:

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe, Aidan Kearney, Liam Lawlor, Stephen Daniels, Richie Foley, Michael Walsh, Philip Mahony, Kevin Moran, Stephen Molumphy, Maurice Shanahan, Seamus Prendergast, Eoin Kelly, John Mullane, Shane Walsh, Gavin O’Brien.

Clare: Patrick Kelly, Domhnall O’Donovan, Cian Dillon, Conor Cooney, Brendan Bugler, James McInerney, Patrick O Connor, Nicky O Connell, Patrick Donnellan (c), Enda Barrett, Sean Collins, Jonathan Clancy, Colin Ryan, John Conlon, Conor McGrath

And we’re underway…

Conor McGrath scores the first point of the game, before Nicky O Connell doubles their advantage.

John Mullane then gets a well-taken point from distance to open Waterford’s account in what is a frantic opening.

O’Connell has just slotted over his second point from a free to consolidate Clare’s impressive start to the game.

Great work from John Mullane, who charges through the middle of the field and hits an excellent point, before Shane Walsh moves Waterford to within a point of their opponents.

GOAL FOR WATERFORD!

Cian Dillon is judged to have impeded Eoin Kelly in the box, and Kelly himself then consummately hits his penalty into the top corner of the net.

The momentum is undoubtedly with Waterford now.

Maurice Shanahan hits over another free for Waterford, before then adding to his tally with a second consecutive point.

Their opponents, meanwhile, have gone completely off the boil, failing to register even a point in the last ten minutes of play.

GOAL FOR WATERFORD!

Shane Walsh gets to a hopeful long ball just ahead of the goalkeeper and scrappily slots it past him.

Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but it seemed like Patrick Kelly could’ve done better there.

GOAL FOR CLARE!

Excellent response from Clare, as John Conlon produces an extremely powerful shot that the goalkeeper can only help into the top corner of the net, after some hesitant Waterford defending.

It’s been a fantastic first half from a neutral’s perspective.

Gavin O’Brien has given his side a four-point advantage, with just under ten minutes until half-time.

Nicky O Connell gets a wonderful point from a tight angle to bring the deficit back to three.

James McInerney does well to burst through midfield, but can’t capitalise thereafter, hitting Clare’s fifth wide of the game.

Immediately down the other end, Seamus Prendergast hits a well-taken point to extend Waterford’s lead.

There has been a bit of a lull in the game, with unforced errors creeping into both sides’ game.

Two minutes of injury time will be played.

As I type, Conlon has brought his side to within two points of their opponents, with two quick-fire points.

HALF-TIME: CLARE 1-09 WATERFORD 2-08

So it’s half-time in what has been an intriguing encounter. It’s been a very even game, with both sides enjoying spells on top.

Waterford’s two goals means they have the slight advantage at the break, but this game ultimately remains there for the taking.

The official attendance for this game is 12,296 (via @trevkeane)

(Waterford’s Eamonn Murphy under pressure from David McInerney of Clare scores a goal – INPHO/Cathal Noonan)

The second half is underway and immediately, Mullane gets a point for Waterford.

Jonathan Clancy gets Clare’s first point of the half, with a brilliantly executed effort from the sideline.

A free from Nicky O’Connell brings Clare back to within two points of their opponents.

It’s incredible how frequently the pendulum has swung in this game.

There’s been some superb finishing in this second half, and Conor McGrath is the latest to demonstrate such skills, reducing Waterford’s lead to one point in the process.

Waterford haven’t scored in the last eight minutes.

Pa Kelly has just scored an absolutely monstrous free from inside his own half, to give Clare the lead for the first time in a long while.

Waterford have been pretty average in this second half, though as I type, Maurice Shanahan levels the scores once more with a free.

Stephen Molumphy has just given Waterford a two-point lead, as they belatedly start to play in this second half.

Every time Clare threaten to come back, Waterford seem to increase the tempo and pull away again.

Clare now haven’t scored in eight minutes, as Waterford lead by four. It’s their turn for a good spell evidently.

Jonathan Clancy gets a point for Clare, before Maurice Shanahan hits a successful free from about 30 yards out in front of the goal.

Ten minutes remaining.

Conor McGrath evades his marker and hits a beautiful strike over the bar, as Clare’s dogged youngsters remain very much in this game.

Nicky O’Connell has just  hit a free wide, which would’ve levelled the scores – it could ultimately prove to be a pivotal moment in this game, and could have detrimental effect psychologically on Clare.

Martin O’Neill has just with given Waterford a two-point advantage with a minute remaining.

Conor McGrath makes a bustling run into the box, but his powerful shot is superbly saved by Stephen O’Keeffe.

Three minutes of added time to be played, with Waterford leading by two.

Thomas Ryan just had a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his attempt at a shot was blocked at the last minute. What a finish to this game!

FULL-TIME: Clare 1-18 Waterford 2-17

John Mullane celebrates provocatively in front of Davy Fitz. So much for good sportsmanship, eh?

Speaking to RTE, Waterford manager Michael Ryan describes the game’s end as “heart-stopping stuff” and “pays tribute to two fantastic teams”.

He admits his side “may have been a bit  rusty,” given their lack of action recently.

In summary, an entertaining game (particularly with its crazy finish) that Clare will probably consider themselves unlucky not to have won.

In saying that though, Waterford always looked to have that extra bit of class to pull away from their opponents web necessary, notwithstanding the admirable character shown by Clare to keep fighting back when they could have easily collapsed.

A disappointed Davy Fitz tells RTE he’s “not going to give out to the lads” on account of their effort, and says he’s “nothing but admiration and respect for Waterford”.

On one or two contentious decisions that went against his side, he says: “I’m not going to go into that.”

(Waterford’s Eoin Kelly scores a penalty – INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan)

That’s all folks! Thanks for reading and commenting.

I’ll be back to liveblog the Euro 2012 games shortly.

Read: LIVE: Galway v Offaly, Leinster SHC semi-final>

Read: Meath trounce Carlow in quarter-final replay>

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Paul Fennessy
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