Clare cakewalk, but too early for banner headlines, says Davy

Despite the insistence of Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald that the result of this Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final yesterday will be an “utter irrelevancy’’ when the counties meet in the June Munster championship semi-final, the Banner boss must have been impressed at the way his charges performed.

With the exception of the opening quarter, when Waterford forced the pace, Clare were the far superior outfit, and but for a hat trick of late goals the home side would have suffered a much heavier defeat.

Fitzgerald said the outcome will have no relevance on the championship stage: “I know exactly what these Waterford players are made of, and there is no point whatever in me getting excited about our performance today, ’’ Fitzgerald said.