Waterford come from behind to take Clare encounter

Waterford 1-10 Clare 0-9, Dungarvan (br>

Gary Hurney’s second-half goal saw Waterford come from behind against Clare and set up a Munster SFC semi-final clash with Limerick on June 6.

Hurney’s 43rd-minute strike was the turning point in a nip-and-tuck Championship tie which was played in strength-sapping conditions in Dungarvan.

David Tubridy accounted for four points, including an injury-time score, as Clare led 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

But after Hurney’s crucial goal, Clare wing back Declan Callinan was dismissed for his second bookable offence and closing points from Tommy Prendergast, Hurney and Robert Ahearne saw the hosts prevail.

Clare showed plenty of industry throughout but they tired at a crucial time during the second period, not helped obviously by that sending off.

Waterford wasted a number of scoring chances, but did enough to pull through and set up a rematch with Limerick whom they lost to in the recent NFL Division 4 final.

The Deise were slight favourites coming into this game, particularly given their 0-20 to 2-5 victory over Clare in the league phase last month.

Waterford manager John Owens handed Championship debuts to defenders Kieran Connery and Eamon Walsh, along with centre-forward Conor McGrath.

In all, Waterford made just two changes to the team that lost the Division 4 decider, with Walsh and Patrick Hurney replacing Niall Hennessy and Robert Ahearne in the starting line-up.

Clare manager Michael McDermott also tweaked his side, giving Championship newcomers Barry Duggan and Brian Carrig their chance to impress in the full-back line, and fellow debutant Diarmuid Daly was added to the attack.

The Banner men started with great gusto as they raided forward from the throw-in and the versatile Gary Brennan popped over the opening point inside 10 seconds, with the Waterford defence affording him far too much space.

Waterford hit back with two points from McGrath, both coming after some impressive build-up play by target man Gary Hurney who had his brother Patrick alongside him in the full-forward line.

The nip-and-tuck nature of the game continued but Clare, with a light breeze behind them, soon took control, maintaining a high pace as they notched four points in-a-row.

Taking a pass from David Russell, Michael O’Shea was able to beat his marker and find the target from a tight angle, and David Tubridy, who scored a tremendous 6-48 during the National League, soon opened his Championship account.

Brennan added his second, profiting from a quickly-taken free, and two placed balls from the talismanic Tubridy – the second from 50 metres out – left the hosts trailing by 0-6 to 0-2.

Brian Wall ended a long scoreless spell for Waterford with a well-struck 30-metre free, and Owens' charges got back in the groove as Patrick Hurney and Wayne Hennessy, who grabbed an excellent point from under the stand, added their names to the scoresheet.

With increasing momentum behind them, it was no surprise when Wall sent over his second free to draw his side level approaching half-time. However, Tubridy had the final say, kicking an injury-time free to give Clare the narrowest of leads.

The Doonbeg clubman missed a difficult free as the action resumed in the second half, and Waterford soon pounced for the game’s only goal.

Eight minutes in, Liam O Lionain pinged a line ball in towards the danger area. Full-forward Gary Hurney soared to catch it and he turned quickly to blast the ball into the roof of the net, nudging the Deise into a 1-6 to 0-7 lead.

That score really energised Waterford and the bulk of the 2,269 spectators sensed that the home side had the platform now to exert their dominance.

Clare determinedly got back on terms with pointed efforts from Alan Clohessy and O’Shea, but Tommy Prendergast raced through to score, under pressure from Enda Coughlan, and restore Waterford’s lead.

Wall doubled that advantage and just as Clare struggled to turn possession into scores - O’Shea missed a gilt-edged goal-scoring opportunity – their defence gave way and Callinan was shown his second yellow card.

Both sides understandably tired in the heat, and that extra man allowed Waterford push on as Hurney and Ahearne kicked them through to the last-four.