Three keys moments from Waterford v Clare

Clare missed the wizardry of Tony Kelly. 

Tadgh De Burca of Waterford is tackled by Mark Rodgers of Clare. Pic: ©INPHO/Natasha Barton

No Tony Kelly

In the lead up to throw in, word quickly spread through Walsh Park of Tony Kelly's absence through illness. Local radio commentators didn't spot the 2013 Hurler of the Year getting off the Clare bus. The Banner missed his wizardry. He also would have given them another free-taking option on an off day for Aidan McCarthy. Brian Lohan will need his captain and Shane O'Donnell back on the field when Tipperary land in Cusack Park on May 10.

Penalty?

A three-point half-time looked precarious for Waterford facing into the breeze. Three was still the difference when Jack Prendergast sent Michael Kiely through on goal. Adam Hogan wrapped his arm around the big Abbeyside-Ballinacourty man as he tried to offload to Dessie Hutchinson and referee Chris Mooney signalled a penalty.

The Clare defenders protested and manager Brian Lohan queried the decision afterwards. "There was a big question mark about his interpretation for the penalty. I just spoke to Adam inside there and sometimes those decisions go for you and more times they don't."

Stephen Bennett admitted afterwards that he slipped in the act of finding the net. "I fell over! We'll take it! It was like a John Terry moment! Look, it went in, I was happy. I didn't see it go in."

Nolan to the rescue 

Four minutes after the Bennett penalty, the ever dangerous Peter Duggan flicked the ball through to Clare sub Ian Galvin. Déise netminder Billy Nolan stood up and smothered the shot. Mark Rodgers blazed wide off the rebound.

Nolan has made the Waterford number one shirt his own this season. The Roanmore man preserved his clean sheet with a save from Duggan in injury time. He also landed a monster first half point from his own 45.