Culligan leads classy Clare to convincing win in Waterford

Clare made it back-to-back wins in Lemybrien.

Munster Under-20 FC Phase 1 Round 2: Waterford 0-6 (0-2-4) Clare 1-12 (1-2-8) 

Clare made it back-to-back wins in the Munster Under-20 Football Championship as they left Lemybrien with the points on an emotional afternoon.

Having mourned the passing of their S&C coach Jack Boddy recently, the Banner produced a befitting display in tribute as they kept their 100 percent record intact.

There were five minutes on the clock when the opening score arrived, Aaron Curran was dispossessed and with the aid of the breeze, Diarmuid McMahon tried his luck right on the arc and delivered an orange flag.

The Lissycasey man scored a replica to yield a white flag four minutes later as the hosts were once again punished for running the ball into the tackle, but the Déise did open their account seconds later as Ben Qualter attacked space and provided a fine point.

Daire Culligan and Paddy McCarthy exchanged short range frees, before a short free from McCarthy on 17 minutes ended up in the net but it was ruled out for a square ball infringement by Paul Bagnell.

The Banner were failing to make the aid of the elements and dominance in possession count, as they racked up five successive wides - but they did move four in front approaching the interval as a short-worked free afforded Donncha O’Dwyer the chance to kick a superb two-pointer, before Culligan’s first from play stretched the lead further.

Waterford would’ve been the happier still given how the game was developing, and a well-taken free from distance by McCarthy made it 0-7 to 0-4 in Clare’s favour at the break, though the Déise would have wind advantage in the second period.

Evan Cahill gave an exhibition of high fielding throughout and it was by virtue of his work that Culligan kicked his third to open the second half scoring, before Harry O’Gorman had to be live to an attempted fist to deny Waterford the opening goal.

Cahill then sent Townsend through to fist over as the Banner continued their bright resumption from the break - before a David Nyhan strike was narrowly wide as Waterford continued to seek the elusive green flag.

While The Déise were bright in bursts, they weren’t working the scoreboard and Clare were, a Culligan free making it 0-10 to 0-4. The game could well have been over seconds later but the full-forward blazed left and wide with the goal at his mercy.

Nyhan kicked Waterford’s first score from play in 35 minutes, but time was not on their side. 

A Bagnell effort looked to be on target but was contentiously waved wide, and as the hour-mark drew closer, a patiently worked move was capped off by O’Dwyer as the Banner were surely home and hosed now.

There was still time for Clare to add the cherry atop, as on 59 minutes - Colm Breen played in Culligan who sidestepped Conor Drohan before tapping into the net.

A free from man of the match Culligan capped off a fine afternoon on a personal and connective level, as the visitors ran out most deserving victors.

Scorers for Waterford: P McCarthy (0-3, 1tpf, 1f); J Brennan (0-1, 1f); B Qualter and D Nyhan (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Clare: D Culligan (1-5, 4f); D McMahon (0-3, 1tp); D O’Dwyer (0-3, 1tp); D Townsend (0-1).

Waterford: C Drohan (Rathgormack); A Ryan (The Nire), B Boland (St. Saviours), C Lyons (Dungarvan); D Nyhan (Brickey Rangers), F O’Brien (Gaultier), D Jacob (J-Capt) (St. Saviours); D Mackle (Ballinacourty), D Colleran (Brickey Rangers); B Qualter (An Rinn), J Foley (Affane/Cappoquin/Tourin), A Curran (Stradbally); J Brennan (Tramore), P McCarthy (J-Capt)(Brickey Rangers), P Bagnell (Tramore).

Subs: C Royle (Brickey Rangers) for J Foley (41); C Power (Rathgormack) for D Power (51); L Kiersey (Stradbally) for C Lyons (53); E Adebayo (Mount Sion) for P Bagnell (58); D Murphy (Fenor) for P McCarthy (60).

Clare: H O'Gorman (Cooraclare); A Weaver (Lissycasey), S Murphy (St. Joseph’s Miltown), A Killeen (Lissycasey); D Brody (Ennistymon), D Boyle (St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield), M Kelly (Lissycasey); E Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrackane), S Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks); D Townsend (Cooraclare), C Breen (Corofin), D O’Dwyer (St. Breckan’s); D McMahon (Lissycasey), D Culligan (Lissycasey), R Fallon (Kilmurry Ibrackane). 

Subs: S Culligan (Cooraclare) for R Fallon (54); S O’Dea (Cooraclare) for C Breen (60),

Referee: T McGrath (Limerick)