Clare drive forward as Déise dream dies

THANK YOU and goodbye. Waterford’s fanatical fairytale romp through the All-Ireland SHC was tripped up at Croke Park by a Clare team which had broken the mould of hurling hierarchy throughout the late 90s and yesterday proved that their days of magic-making remain in plentiful supply.

As Clare were embraced by the nation after shaking off Biddy Earley’s course seven years ago, so it was for the Déise in 2002. The county has been enveloped by hurling fever since the Munster final win over All-Ireland champions Tipperary six weeks ago. These were the new poster boys of the hurling championship.

But Clare were not willing to be covered over, just yet.

Set against the backdrop of the nasty Munster final escapade of 1998, this was special for Clare. As special as any of the halcyon days of ‘95 or ‘97, as it proved that the side which was deemed too old are anything but.

For manager Cyril Lyons it was another step into the sunshine as he emerges from the shadow of one Ger Loughnane.

For Waterford, it was heartbreak. The 39-year-old famine which ended with the Munster title win merely intensified the thirst to sip from Liam McCarthy in September. They thought, as did the entire country, that their final place seemed assured after all of five minutes as Waterford produced a frightening four point opening salvo from Kelly, Flynn and McGrath.

But then, like of old, Clare rose and rumbled, had enough of their rope a dope antics and came out to play on their favourite Croke Park surface. Colin Lynch commandeered the centre and when Alan Markham powered a screamer past the Waterford goalkeeper Stephen Brenner, you could sense the psychological battle at least being lost by the men from the South East.

The gunsights of McGrath and company, so unerring for so long this summer seemed desperately off line in the second half, as the names of Lohan, McMahon and Jamesie O’Connor, seemed to fill every breath, chasing every ball, swamping every Waterford man in possession. Waterford boss Justin McCarthy who in a single season had done so much for his adopted county, swallowed hard in the aftermath.

“Defeat is very disappointing, all the more so given the number of chances we squandered and yet we ended up losing by just three points. Fair play to Clare however, they showed their experience when it mattered most and in the end they were deserving winners.”

So where to now for Clare? That’s the mouth-watering thing.

Tipperary, their Munster nemesis, and Kilkenny, who beat them at Croke Park in 1999, meet next Sunday to battle for the last All-Ireland Final spot.