Fitzgerald: 'We're well aware of what we're up against but we'll tackle it like every other challenge"

Clare manager Mark Fitzgerald knows they have work to do before the face Kerry in a repeat of last year's Munster final.

READY FOR CHALLENGE: Clare manager Mark Fitzgerald is ready for the might of Kerry when they face the Division one side in a repeat of last year's Munster final. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Munster SFC semi-final:  Waterford 1-9 Clare 2-20

Clare manager Mark Fitzgerald is best mates with Kerry selector Mike Quirke. Just don't expect the WhatsApp messages to be pinging back and forth quite as often for the next fortnight.

His Banner side made it back-to-back Munster finals for the first time since 1937 with a routine 14-point win over Waterford to set up a repeat of last year's decider against the Kingdom.

Such is the Clare turnover, half of the 20 players who featured are no longer part of the panel.

“If you told me this in September when I got the role, I'd probably bite your hand off for it,” said Tralee native Fitzgerald.

“It's good for the lads that were there last year and it's brilliant for the lads that weren't there last year.

“We're well aware of what we're up against but we'll tackle it like every other challenge we've tackled this year.” 

The victory, secured with goals from Emmet McMahon (1-3) and Mark McInerney (1-2), also seals their place in the top 16 for the All-Ireland series.

Both attackers had been burned before by Waterford at Fraher Field. Their underage careers ended in defeat here as U20s back in 2021. Warning heeded, they helped to lead the charge as all six starting attackers registered, combining for 2-16.

Aaron Griffin notched 0-5 which should’ve been 3-3. Ciarán Downes added 0-4. In his first action of 2024, eye-catching midfielder Darragh Bohannon kicked two lovely points and was central to a pair of goal chances. Competition for places was raised a level by debutant Diarmuid O'Donnell. Off the bench, he scored or assisted their last four points.

Most impressive was how Clare discouraged the underdogs in the early stages with their efficient use of possession, converting eight of their first nine shots, and an aggressive kick-out press, which yielded 1-4 in the first half.

“It's been a potential banana skin for Clare teams in the past so we're just happy to get into the Munster final,” said Fitzgerald, who outlined the areas for improvement for the step up to Division 1 opposition.

“We were dropping too deep and letting Waterford too high up the pitch. If you do that against Kerry, we will absolutely get slaughtered.

“Plenty to work on but absolutely delighted to get into a Munster final with what's a brand new group and test ourselves against the might of Kerry.” 

In front of 1,504 fans, a fine Jason Curry punt gave Waterford the first point but Clare quickly took over. They had seven in a row between the second and 13th minutes, including a goal chance from a misplaced kick-out. Under pressure, Griffin drove it over.

Dermot Coughlan, Bohannon, and McMahon kicked stylish points from all angles. When Seán Whelan-Barrett hit back with a huge score, Downes responded with two lovely curlers.

Defenders Robbie McGrath and Ross Browne also came forward to point for the hosts before McMahon killed them off with a rapid-fire 1-1. The goal was well created by corner-back Ronan Lanigan, who assisted 1-2, and finished by the Kildysart dynamo at the second attempt.

There was confusion at half-time as the referee and scoreboard had the tally 1-12 to 0-4 but the media had it at 1-11 to 0-4. After checking with his umpires, David Murnane corrected it to the latter. A disputed point which was double-counted appeared to be the issue.

Griffin palmed into the sidenetting with Clare’s first attack on the resumption. Despite that miss, they continued to stretch ahead and from a quick counter, Griffin squared for McInerney to punch home.

Waterford immediately hit back with goal-scoring hero Tom O’Connell fisting a high ball to the net. 2-13 to 1-5 now.

There were further goal openings at either end. McMahon was blocked by the outstanding Liam Fennell, Griffin whistled a shot over, and Cormac Murray was denied by another marginal square-ball decision after Murnane consulted with his umpires.

The Déise also went goal-hunting. Michael Curry had a shot scrambled off the line, Alan Dunwoody fluffed a chance wide, and Fennell shot straight at Stephen Ryan.

“The lads gave everything, that’s all you can ask for,” said manager Paul Shankey. “I’m proud of them. They just kept fighting to the end.

“We created loads of great chances in the second half, I’d say we’d four of five goals chances, and the ball just didn’t fall for us.

“We played a team at a higher level to be fair. Every mistake we made got punished.” 

Now it's Clare who must bridge that higher level.

Scorers for Waterford: T O'Connell (1-1, 0-1 free); A Dunwoody (0-3, 2 frees); J Curry (0-2, 1 free); R Browne, R McGrath, S Whelan-Barrett (0-1 each).

Scorers for Clare: E McMahon (1-3, 0-1 free); M McInerney (1-2, 0-1 free); A Griffin (0-5); C Downes (0-4, 1 45); D Bohannon, D O'Donnell (0-2 each); G Murray, D Coughlan (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: P Hunt; R Browne, C Walsh, L Fennell; D Ryan, W Beresford, R McGrath; M Curry, J Curry; S Whelan-Barrett, D Fitzgerald, B O’Keeffe; S Curry, T O’Connell, J Power.

Subs: J Walsh for Fitzgerald (39), C Mac Craith for Beresford (43), A Dunwoody for Browne (47), B Hynes for McGrath (61), M O’Brien for J Curry (66).

CLARE: S Ryan; M Doherty, C Brennan, R Lanigan; A Sweeney, C Rouine, I Ugweru; B McNamara, D Bohannon; G Murray, D Coughlan, C Downes; M McInerney, A Griffin, E McMahon.

Subs: C Murray for G Murray (35-h-t, blood), C Murray for McMahon (46), J McGann for Bohannon (51), D O’Donnell for McInerney (55), C Burke for Sweeney (59), T McDonald for Coughlan (67).

Referee: D Murnane (Cork).