Goals key for Clare who defeat Waterford in McGrath Cup opening clash
WINNING START: Two first half goals proved crucial as Clare saw off a spirited Waterford to get their McGrath Cup campaign and the Paul Madden era off to a winning start at Fraher Field. Picture: Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Two first half goals proved crucial as Clare saw off a spirited Waterford to get their McGrath Cup campaign and the Paul Madden era off to a winning start at Fraher Field.
Joe Rafferty and Caoilfhionn O’Dea both found the net in the opening half, before a late goal from substitute Jamie Stack made sure of the result late on.
Clare opened the scoring after 90 seconds when Mark McInerney found space and split the posts, but the Déise fired back instantly through James Walsh.
A Stephen Curry free then moved the hosts in front before some fine play afforded Aaron Ryan the opportunity to double their advantage as Waterford made a bright start.
Having been two ahead on ten minutes, Waterford found themselves four behind just as fast as the Banner announced their arrival at Fraher Field. Eoin Cleary was on hand to kickstart their purple patch before Caoilfhionn O’Dea combined with McInerney who levelled the scores. The opening goal then arrived as Clare cut open the Déise defence and Joe Rafferty was on hand to palm to an empty net on 14 minutes before Cleary cut in again to push the gap out to four.
Waterford responded well to the setback as Conor Murray found the radar before a goalbound effort from Adam Crawford was blocked but Curry was on hand to raise a white flag. Approaching half time, Ephie Fitzgerald’s men hauled themselves level when Murray cleverly played a free short to oncoming netminder Josh Sheridan to blaze over the game’s first two-pointer.
Clare would hit the hosts with another sucker punch approaching the break however as smart and patient play saw space open for O’Dea and he bulldozed through before smartly finishing to the bottom left corner - another Curry reply left it 2-4 to 0-8 at the interval.
James Curran got in on the act for the visitors before neither side scored for ten minutes in what was becoming a stop-start second half - Conor Murray eventually ended the barren run with a fine individual effort on 42 minutes.
Clare kicked in to gear again and the catalyst was the impressive Dermot Coughlan, his effort outside the arc was palmed over by Sheridan and the umpire reached for the orange flag. A McInerney free and a well-worked Manus Doherty effort had Madden’s men six to the good approaching the final quarter.
Waterford kept their slim hopes alive when Paudie Hunt was on hand to deny Cleary from close range, and they then worked the ball upfield for Aaron Ryan to notch his second but time was fast running out.
A close range free from McInerney restored the six-point cushion, before Coughlan burst through and offloaded to substitute Stack and he cannoned an effort to the roof of the net to firmly end matters on 57 minutes.
A late Curry goal was ruled out for a square ball, but Clare were deserving winners on a bitterly cold night.
: M McInerney (0-4; 2f); J Rafferty, C O’Dea and J Stack (1-0 each); D Coughlan (0-2; 1tp); E Cleary (0-2); J Curran and M Doherty (0-1 each)
: S Curry (0-3; 1f); A Ryan (0-3); C Murray (0-2); J Sheridan (0-2; 1 tp); J Walsh (0-1)
: J Sheridan; L Mulligan, A Crawford, B Hynes; D Fitzgerald, G Power, T Martin; D O’Cathasaigh, J Walsh; D Walsh, C Murray, C O Currin; C Foley, S Curry, A Ryan.
: D Butler for Foley (41); C Walsh for Power (47); P Hunt for Sheridan (49); D Jacob for Fitzgerald (49); A Murray for O Currin (54); C Fennell for Crawford (54)
: T O’Callaghan; A Sweeney, R Lanigan, M Garry; J Curran, C Brennan, M Doherty; B McNamara, M Nash; C O’Dea, D Coughlan, B Rouine; E Cleary, M McInerney, J Rafferty.
: J Killeen for Nash (HT); J Stack for O’Dea (39); C Murray for Rafferty (39); M Tubridy for Garry (50); G Murray for Cleary (56); E Cahill for McNamara (56)
: J Hayes (Limerick)
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