Whyte earns Déise replay

MUNSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL:

It was a mood reflected in the hundreds of Banner supporters who shuffled out of Cusack Park on Saturday. The scoreboard may have read 2-8 apiece; the post-match feeling, however had all the hallmarks of a home defeat.

Waterford, subdued for much of the first-half, were a different animal at the changes of ends — outscoring Clare 1-6 to 1-3 – and yet David Tubridy’s goal five minutes from the end had moved the hosts three to the good.

Waterford had exhausted every last sinew in their first overtaking movement and it was difficult to envisage a second coming so late in proceedings. Clare fans thought as much and began mapping out the journey to Killarney.

But Waterford dug deep. Shane Ahern kicked two points in quick succession, his second a close range free which saw Podge Collins black carded for hauling Paul Whyte down. From the ensuing kickout, the clock now having spilled into time added on, Tommy Prendergast gathered possession and fed the unmarked Whyte. The Waterford midfielder’s aim was perfect. A white flag raised. Forget Killarney, this one’s heading to Dungarvan.

“Tonight was a horror story,” mused Collins.

“There were a lot of wrong options taken. It was very disappointing. We did an awful lot of stupid things and you won’t get away with them in Munster championship games. I don’t know if it was nerves, but that is probably the worst display we have put together since the start of the league. Now you have to give credit to Waterford, they worked really hard. You can only play as much as you are let and we are just happy to be still in this.”

The home side opened positively with Enda Coughlan rattling the net inside six minutes. Shane McGrath’s initial effort, teed up by Jamie Malone, was superbly blocked on the line by Thomas O’Gorman; Coughlan, however, finished the rebound. Clare were outplaying their opponents in almost every sector and points followed from Shane McGrath (0-2) and Martin O’Leary. For all their dominance though, the interval difference was just three points (1-5 to 1-2) Paul Whyte blasting past Clare ’keeper Joe Hayes on 32 minutes.

Jamie Malone and Gary Brennan further stretched the gap at the change of ends, the latter’s kick on 42 minutes would prove Clare’s last score for 23 minutes of action.

Whyte and substitute Michael Curry kick-started the Waterford revival and the visitors restored parity when Liam Ó Lonáin registered their second goal, constructed from a home error. Clare’s Shane Hickey bore down on the Waterford goal but, instead of shooting, turned back and sought to offload. The wing-back was robbed of possession, with Shane Ahern sweeping down the field, laying off to Ó Lonáin who fisted home.

Tadhg Ó hUallacháin split the posts six minutes out to move Waterford into pole position for the first time. Clare supporters entered panic mode. They needn’t have. Enter Tubridy, applying the coolest finishes to some sweeping play involving Rory Donnelly, Eoin Cleary, Shane McGrath and Sean Collins. Thereafter was that aforementioned tale of Waterford heart and Clare inertia.

“When we went ahead in the second-half I thought we would drive it home,” reflected Waterford’s Shane Ahern. “We didn’t and we were lucky enough in the end.”

Scorers for Clare: D Tubridy (1-2, 0-1 free); E Coughlan (1-0); G Brennan, S McGrath (0-2 each); M O’Leary (0-1 free), J Malone (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: P Whyte (1-2); L Ó Lonáin (1-0); S Ahern (0-2, 0-1 free), JJ Hutchinson (0-2 each); M Curry, T Ó hUallacháin (0-1 each).

Subs for Clare: S Brennan for Kelly (30, bc), R Donnelly for O’Leary (50), E Cleary for Malone (52), P McMahon for P Collins (70, bc).

Subs for Waterford: M Curry for Hutchinson (41), D Allen for B Wall (47), W Hutchinson for Briggs (49, bc), D Grey for Michael O’Gorman (55), D Hallahan for Keevers (60), L Ó Corraoin for Phelan (65).

Referee: C Lane (Cork).

Clare: J Hayes; D Ryan, K Hartnett, M McMahon; C Russell, G Kelly, S Hickey; G Brennan, S McGrath; J Malone, P Collins, S Collins; M O’Leary, D Tubridy, E Coughlan. Waterford: S Enright; S Briggs, Maurice O’Gorman, T O’Gorman; C Phelan, D Crowley, O Keevers; T Prendergast, P Whyte; Michael O’Gorman, S Ahern, T Ó hUallacháin; B Wall, L Ó Lonáin, JJ Hutchinson.