Donnelly delivers as Clare pushed to the limit

Clare 2-14 Waterford 2-10

Hot favourites to qualify for a semi-final meeting with Cork in a fortnights time, Clare had to dig deep to see off their very tenacious opponents in a rollercoaster of a game. Clare can thank their lucky stars corner-forward Ray Donnelly had his shooting boots on, while a snap goal from impressive centre-forward Enda Coughlan, three minutes from the end of normal time, finally swung the seesaw battle in the home side’s favour.

Without Donnelly’s immense contribution, allied to the midfield heroics of David Russell, it is doubtful Clare would have survived this acid test. The Cooraclare sharp shooter scored a goal and seven points, five from frees, and was the only Clare forward to register his name on the scoresheet in the first half, while Russell, both in attack and defence, was the most influential figure on the park.

It was a disappointing outcome for a game Waterford side that richly deserved more than they received. They took the lead after five minutes with a point from ace marksman Niall Curran and were subsequently level on four occasions before Coughlan sounded the death knell.

With centre-back Michael Ahern and full-forward, Gary Hurney turning in sterling displays, Waterford at times looked the more accomplished side but Clare’s survival instincts proved to be the all important factor. Make no mistake about it, Clare were under the cosh on a number of occasions and could easily have succumbed to a shock defeat. As manager John Kennedy admitted later: “On this occasion we got the rub of the green.”

But when things were really tough, Clare showed the type of resilience and character necessary to win games. They looked like confirming their favourites status with relish when they opened up a two point lead after the opening quarter, with Donnelly kicking accurately and superbly between the posts. But they were rocked in the 21st minute, when following a magnificent forward build up, Niall Curran passed to full-forward Hurney, who blasted home from close range.

This gem of a goal stunned Clare and sparked off Waterford’s best period of the match. Unfortunately for the visitors, they failed to translate their outfield superiority on the scoreboard when wing forward Ger Power shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

This huge let off served as a wake-up call for Clare and three points in a row from the irrepressible Donnelly brought a much beleaguered and relieved Banner side back to equal terms at the break 0-7 to 1-4.

Waterford, however, looked good again after the resumption when Curran and Hurney, now operating at midfield, edged them two points in front. But they also experienced the trauma of missing another gilt edge goal scoring opportunity when goalkeeper, Dermot O’Brien bravely denied Power on this occasion.

But Waterford’s lead and period of dominance was short lived. Clare, with centre-forward Coughlan making a major impact, came thundering back. First Coughlan pointed to leave the bare minimum between them in the 42nd minute and then seconds later, substitute Ronan Slattery and Odran O’Dwyer combined to set up Donnelly for a brilliantly taken goal.

It looked like the end of the road for Waterford, now three points in arrears, but to the consternation of the home crowd in the attendance of 2,379, Waterford showed that they had no intention of buckling without a fight and they came storming back to regain a one point advantage when Hurney broke the ball down to Niall Curran, who in turn rifled to the net from close range.

Now another huge challenge confronted Clare, the game was now in the melting pot and for a time it hung on a knife edge with Curran and Donnelly primarily responsible for keeping the sides neck to neck with their admiral accuracy from frees.

They were level for the fourth occasion on the 58th minute, but the very delicately balanced shoot out was finally decided when Coughlan pounced for the match winning goal.

Scorers: Clare; R. Donnelly 1-7 (0-5 frees), E. Coughlan 1-3, O. O’Dwyer 0-2 (0-1f), D. Russell, S. Hickey 0-1 each.

Waterford; N. Curran 1-7 (0-6 frees), G. Hurney 1-1, L. O’Lionain, S. Briggs 0-1 each.

CLARE: D. O’Brien, P. Gallagher, K. Dilleen, B. Maloney, A. Clohessy, D. Kelly, M. O’Connell, G. Quinlan, D. Russell, P. Dwyer, E. Coughlan, O. O’Dwyer, R. Donnelly, D. Neylon, M. O’Dwyer, subs. G. Tubridy for Maloney, S. Hickey for Neylon (leg injury), R. Slattery for Dilleen, M. O’Shea for M. O’Dwyer.

WATERFORD: T. Wall; P. Ogle, L. Hurney, N. Hennessy; A. Heffernan, M. Ahern, T. Costelloe; A. Hubbard, W. Hennessy; S. Briggs, W. Kavanagh, G. Power; N. Curran, G. Hurney, L. O’Lionain. Subs. E. Walsh for L. Hurney (leg injury), S. Wall for Kavanagh, S. Cunningham for J. Wall, F. Halpin for O’Lionain.

Referee P. McGovern (Galway).