Gritty Waterford dig deep to shock Clare

Waterford 1-8 Clare 0-7

While it took a fisted goal by Patrick Hurney two minutes into added time to clinch victory, it was no more than the home side's gritty and determined display deserved.

In the opening half, against a strong wind, they dug deep to withstand strong Clare pressure and when the sides went in at the break on three points apiece, an upset looked likely.

Their defence, with David Hickey and Thomas O'Gorman superb in that opening half, can take great credit for the win. Clare will also rue the half-a-dozen wides to Waterford's one in that period. A brace of Kevin Larkin points and one from an Enda Coughlan free filled Clare's wind-assisted scoresheet at the break while Maurice O'Gorman, Ian Cantwell, and Mark Fives were on target for the winners.

Within four minutes of the restart Waterford enjoyed a double scores advantage when Sean Fleming, Cantwell, and Stephen Prendergast all had points.

But Clare responded, and for the next 20 minutes dominated. They played a short passing game into the wind and after an exchange of pointed frees between Coughlan and Fives, the Banner were on level terms by the 48th minute.

The introduction of Sean O'Meara and Richie Kane into their attack reaped an almost immediate dividend, with each of them scoring points. And when Noel Downes kicked a magnificent equaliser with 12 minutes left all the impetus was with Clare. But for all their possession the Banner forwards just couldn't break down a resolute Waterford backline.

Within seconds of his introduction into the Waterford attack, Killian O'Keeffe kicked a superb lead point in the 53rd minute, and 60 seconds later Cantwell blazed wide of an open goal from 10 metres.

The game's lone goal came soon after. Fives's accurately flighted free was fisted on by O'Keeffe, and the final, crucial, fist, was that of Patrick Hurney past Conor O'Loughlin.

Scorers: Waterford: P. Hurney (1-0); I. Cantwell (0-2); M. Fives (0-2, 0- 1 "45', 0-1 free); M.O'Gorman, S. Fleming, S. Prendergast, K. O'Keeffe (0-1) each. Clare: E.Coughlan (0-2, frees); K. Larkin (0-2); S.O'Meara, R. Kane, N. Downes (0-1) each.

WATERFORD: P. Walsh; K. McBride, T. O'Gorman, J. Seaward; S. Lennon, D. Hickey, M. Whelan; M. Fives, S. Prendergast; I. Cantwell, P. Phelan, P. Hurney; S. Fleming, M. O'Gorman, G. O'Connor.

Subs: K. O'Keeffe for M. O'Gorman; L. Lawlor for Prendergast; T. Grey for Phelan; P. Lynch for O'Connor.

CLARE: C. O'Loughlin; S. Haugh, M. O'Shea, M. McMahon; G. Lyons, J. Hayes. S. O'Brien; F. O'Dea, K. Larkin; S. Hickey, C. Dillon, S. Moloney; S. Boland, E. Coughlan, N. Downes. Subs: R. Kane for Dillon; E. Talty for McMahon; S. O'Meara for O'Dea.

Referee: D. Cahill, Tipperary.