MUNSTER UNDER-21 HC FINAL: IT'S BEEN a bleak season for Clare, but last night in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, their fortunes at last enjoyed an upward swing.
Twelve months after their heartbreaking defeat to Tipperary at the same stage, Clare enjoyed a famous win over Waterford in an engrossing clash.
The riotous post-match scenes illustrated how much this meant to the Clare faithful, yet not until the closing stages of the game could they relax, safe in the knowledge success was secured.
The decisive incident arrived in the 58th minute with Clare leading 1-16 to 2-12. Wing-back Domhnall O’Donovan dispatched a long ball to the right wing where Darach Honan raced out to collect it.
Honan turned and slalomed towards goal, shaking off the challenges of the defence before rocketing a shot past Adrian Power to the roof of the net.
It was a magnificent strike, and a fine point straight after by Cormac O’Donovan gave Clare an ultimately unassailable 2-17 to 2-12 lead.
Waterford mounted a series of late attacks but Clare’s defence, who possessed outstanding contributors in Eamonn Glynn and Ciarán O’Doherty, were impenetrable.
Waterford had enjoyed the brighter start. They hurled with the greater authority and adjusted the tempo of the match with greater ease. By the 13th minute they led 1-3 to 0-3, yet was an advantage that could easily have been embellished. Thomas Ryan, lightning quick in attack, spurned a gilt-edged goal chance in the eighth minute but made amends five minutes later when he flashed a fine drive to the net.
Clare were a nervy bunch in those opening stages yet they improved considerably as the half progressed. Colin Ryan and Nicky O’Connell were assured in their free-taking and those scores steadied the ship sufficiently to bring them back level, 1-4 to 0-7, by the 22nd minute.
Two minutes after the break Honan pounced on a breaking ball to whip a shot to the net. That sent Clare seven points clear and the pendulum had swung firmly in their direction. But Waterford regrouped. They had trimmed the margin down to four, 1-14 to 1-10, by the 45th minute when Casey finished a flowing team move by striking sweetly to the net.
But Clare surged to the finish line. Colin Ryan and Cormac O’Donovan pushed them two ahead, then the Banner pounced for the match winner soon after from Honan.
CLARE: D Tuohy; J Gunning, E Glynn, C O'Doherty; D O'Donovan, C Duggan, E Barrett; N O'Connell (0-3, frees), L Markham; J Conlon (0-1), S Collins, C O'Donovan (0-3); D Honan (2-2), C Morey (0-1), C Ryan (0-7, four frees). Subs: C Tierney for Collins, P O'Connor for Duggan (both half-time), C McGrath for Markham (56 mins).
WATERFORD: A Power (0-1, free); N Connors, S Fives, J Maher; P Mahony, S Daniels, D O'Sullivan; S Walsh, K Duggan; T Connors, P Murray, M Shanahan (0-6, five frees); B O'Sullivan, S Casey (1-3), T Ryan (1-1, 0-1 sideline). Subs: J Gorman (0-1) for Maher (inj, 34 mins), S Power for B O'Sullivan (51 mins), D Twomey for Connors (60 mins).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)
** Corner-forward CJ McGourty fired home the only goal of the game as Antrim beat Derry 1-18 to 0-9 in the Ulster Under-21 Hurling final at Casement Park.
