Four sent off as Clare claim points

Clare collected both points on offer in a game which saw four players sent off. The quartet — three form Waterford, one from Clare — received their marching orders for second yellow card offences.

Clare started with points from Gary Brennan, David Tubridy, Rory Donnelly and Shane McGrath before Shane Ahearne opened the Waterford account in the 18th minute and they began to reel in their hosts. But Clare finished with points from Tubridy and Alan Clohessy for a 0-9 to 0-6 interval lead.

Ahearne was then sent off for a clumsy foul on Gordon Kelly and with him went Waterford’s best chance of a result. Moments later Rory Donnelly fired past Cotter for the game’s only goal to end the contest before Gordon Kelly along with Waterford pair, Gary Hurney and Joey Veale were dismissed.

Scorers for Clare: D Tubridy ((0-7), 1 f, R Donnelly (1-2), A Clohessy (0-4), S McGrath (0-2), G Brennan, G Quinlan (0-1) each.

Scorers for Waterford: G Hurney (0-4) 3 f’s, S Fleming, P Hurney, C McGrath (0-2) each, S Ahearne, S O’Hare (0-1) each.

CLARE: Joe Hayes, B Hartnett, S McNeilis, L Healy, M McMahon, G Kelly, John Hayes, G Brennan, G Quinlan, N Browne, S McGrath, S Brennan, R Donnelly, D Tubridy, A Clohessy.

Subs: D Russell for Browne (53), J Dowling for Donnelly (63), S Tierney for McGrath (67), M Foran for S Brennan (69), T Ryan for Healy (69).

WATERFORD: K Cotter, K Connery, C Phelan, A Doyle, S Briggs, T Grey, W Hennessy, S Ahearne, S O’Hare, C McGrath, S Dempsey, P Hurney, G Hurney, L O’Lonain, S Fleming.

Subs: C O’Keeffe for O’Lonain (46), R Ahearne for Hennessy (58), J Veale for McGrath (58).

Referee: F Flynn (Leitrim).