WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP SEMI-FINALS:CLARE ARE through to the final after a facile victory in Walsh Park yesterday. Waterford were the better team early on and a Séamus Prendergast goal helped them lead, 1-6 to 0-3, after 18 minutes.

However, they appeared to go asleep after that and Clare took over. A goal by Daire Keane brought them level and they seized the initiative to lead by two at the interval on a scoreline of 1-9 to 1-7.

The second half followed a similar pattern. A sinking Waterford team were struck by a second Clare goal in the 54th minute when Aaron Cunningham found the top corner.

Waterford finished strongly with Martin O’Neill scoring two goals. Colm Galvin’s goal for Clare was replied to with the last puck of the game by Séamus Prendergast.

CLARE: D Tuohy; D ODonovan, C Dillon, C Cooney; S Morey, E Barrett, P OConnor (0-2); C Galvin (1-1), P Donnellan (0-1); J Conlon (0-1), D Keane (1-1), F Lynch (0-1); T Carmody (0-1), C Ryan (0-6, 4), A Cunningham (1-2). Subs: P Kelly (0-1) for E Barrett; C Chaplin for F Lynch; R Horan for D Keane; S OHalloran for C Cooney.

WATERFORD: A Power; S Fives, D Prendergast, A Kearney, J Nagle; S OSullivan, K Moran; M Walsh, P O'Brien; M Shanahan (0-1, f), S Prendergast (2-0), D Twomey; M O'Neill (2-6, 6f), S Walsh (0-2), E McGrath. Subs: P Nevin for D Twomey; T Ryan for S Walsh.

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).