Waterford and Limerick promoted as Clare miss out in Division 4
Waterford and Clare played out a top-of-the-table clash at Dungarvan and the near frenzied celebratory scenes that greeted the final whistle at Fraher Field mirrored just how much this Division Four National Football League promotion means to a county so starved of success as Waterford have been down the decades.
Totally dominating in the early stages Waterford eased into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead inside eleven minutes before Clare went on to enjoy their one and only period of dominance in the game.
Their goal in the 17th minute scored by midfielder Gary Brennan put them in front for the second, and final, time, although there were strong protests from several Waterford defenders about the free that led up to it.
That, however, was as good as it would get for the Banner, and with Waterford quickly reasserting themselves they began to pop over points from all angles and distances.
Gary Hurney, their undisputed man of the match, rifled over the score of the game in the 33rd minute and they were super value for their 0-11 to 1-3 half time lead.
The Waterford points, one better than the next, and indicative of the confidence now seeping through the side continued to flow in the spring sunshine with Clare having all but thrown in the towel.
They did manage a second goal from a dubious enough penalty in the 67th minute but it was nothing more than a consolation score on a day when they were outplayed and outsmarted to an even greater extent that Waterford’s winning margin of nine points might suggest.
Limerick have made an instant return to Division Three of the National Football League and booked themselves a Division Four league final spot against Waterford.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side needed to win against Leitrim in this final round tie in the Gaelic Grounds, but no one could have foreseen an easy 16-point win.
Three points from Ian Ryan and three frees from Ger Collins helped the home side to lead 0-11 to 0-5 at the interval.
Seanie Buckley scored a penalty to stretch the lead to 10 points and by the time Leitrim wing back Barry Prior was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 49th minute, Limerick had all but sealed promotion.
A well-taken goal from Ronan McGoldrick after 18 minutes put Longford in control of the National Football League Division 4 clash at Pearse Park and while the hosts held a comfortable 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the break, London staged a determined comeback closing the gap to just three points at one stage.
Limerick 1-22 0-09 Leitrim
Waterford 0-20 2-05 Clare
Longford 1-16 0-10 London
Wicklow 2-25 Kilkenny 0-7
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