Clinical Waterford edge Clare to get Munster minor football campaign off to perfect start

This win presents Waterford their best opportunity of reaching the last four.

Munster Minor FC Phase 1 Round 1: Waterford 0-13 Clare 0-10 

They came agonisingly close two years earlier but a more clinical Waterford finally overturned hosts Clare in Páirc Naomh Mhuiire in Quilty to get their latest Munster minor football campaign off to the perfect start.

Having failed to emerge from Phase 1 in the last four seasons post-COVID, this presents their best opportunity of reaching the last four as they were value for their first win over the Banner county in seven years victory following a five hour journey to West Clare.

Waterford, led by free-taker Dara Gough, never trailed at any stage, and were four clear by the midway mark and actually five in front entering the final quarter.

Their midfield superiority was a crucial factor as towering pair Theo Meagher and Tomás Walsh were instrumental in Waterford controlling the middle third and winning almost two-thirds of kick-outs.

All that despite a thick layer of fog that enveloped West Clare from the afternoon. 

It didn’t perturb a determined Déise though as despite early home goal chances for Zac O’Shea and Shane Cahill, it was Dara Gough that spectacularly opened the scoring with a two-point free in the third minutes.

Rian Cotter and Robbie Kelly reeled the visitors in by the end of the opening quarter, a pattern that would be replicated with a brace of Gough frees were matched by Clare’s chief threats Liam Keane and Sean O’Callaghan at 0-4 apiece by the 24th minute.

That was as good as it got for Joe Hayes’ side though as a four-point blitz in just three minutes, including a second two-point free through Gough, catapulted Waterford to a double scores 0-8 to 0-4 interval advantage.

With time to regroup and re-arm, Clare inevitably hit back on the resumption as points for Liam Keane (2) and O’Callaghan slashed the arrears to just the minimum by the 35th minute.

It only seemed to motivate Waterford further though as they kicked the next four points, two from dominant midfielders Meagher and Walsh, to soar 0-12 to 0-07 clear entering the final quarter.

Indeed, the damage could have been much greater only for a Ronan Kirwan flicked effort to be somehow cleared off the line by Siney Neenan.

A Sean O’Callaghan two-pointer from the left did offer a glimmer of hope to the hosts but kicking 10 wides over the hour, Clare never looked like repairing the damage.

Scorers for Waterford: D Gough 0-7 (2tpf, 3f); P Murray 0-2; E Bloomer, R Kirwan, T Meagher, T Walsh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: L Keane (2f), S O’Callaghan (1tp) 0-4 each; R Cotter, R Kelly 0-1 each.

Waterford: J Sheehan (Kilgobinet); A McManus (Tramore), J Skehan (Rathgormack), C Power (Portlaw); S Healy (Geraldine’s), E Keane (Stradbally), L O’Grady (Gaultier); T Meagher (Portlaw), T Walsh (The Nire); E Bloomer (Gaultier), A McMaugh (The Nire), P Murray (Rathgormack); D Gough (Stradbally), R Hallahan (Dungarvan), R Kirwan (Rathgormack).

Subs: C Kelly (Geraldine’s) for Hallahan (54), C Johnson (Gaultier) for McMaugh (59), F Murray (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty) for Kirwan (62).

Clare: C Griffin (Ennistymon); C Killeen (Lissycasey), S Neenan (Kildysart), T O’Loughlin (St. Breckan’s); D Fitzpatrick (St. Breckan’s), S Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) J Lavin (Ennistymon); Z O’Shea (Doonbeg), P Neylon (Shannon Gaels); R Cotter (Kilrush Shamrocks), R Kelly (Kildysart), D Healy (Liscannor); M Normoyle (St. Breckan’s), L Keane (Lissycasey), S O’Callaghan (St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield). 

Subs: J Greene (Corofin) for Healy (HT), S O’Neill (Éire Óg) for Lavin (41), T Dillon (Doonbeg) for O’Shea (44), T Bane (Banner) for Neylon (51), I Byrne (St. Breckan’s) for Fitzpatrick (54).

Referee: B Crowley (Cork).