All to play for as late McCarthy free sees Déise U20s stun Clare 

Waterford are still very much in with a shout of reaching the provincial decider after the hard-fought win on the road. 

With a championship exit staring them in the face, a relentless Waterford refused to yield.

Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 2 Waterford 2-14 Clare 2-13 

The Munster Under 20 Football race was blown wide open after Waterford resurrected their challenge with a Paddy McCarthy winning free with the last kick of the game in St Michael’s Park in Kilmihil.

With Kerry lowering the Déise by 23 points in the opening round while Clare and Cork shared the spoils, it would be a complete role reversal only seven days later as Cork and Waterford prevailed by the bare minimum.

Paul Power’s side’s feat was far more impressive as having been floored by a nine-point home reverse to the Banner County only three weeks earlier, Waterford again trailed by seven nearing the two-thirds mark at 2-8 to 0-07.

However, a goal through David Nyhan injected a new lease of life into the visitors who would complete a 2-3 unanswered blitz in just five minutes, Capped off by a superb second goal for talisman Joe Brennan to the far top right corner of the home net, the Déise actually snatched the lead for the very first time at 2-10 to 2-09 entering the final quarter.

A shellshocked Clare did dust themselves down to get back on track with the next four points through Daire Culligan (2), Donncha O’Dwyer and a ’45 from goalkeeper Harry O’Gorman at 2-12 to 2-10.

With a championship exit staring them in the face, a relentless Waterford simply refused to yield and they would incrementally keep the scoreboard ticking over as Paddy McCarthy converted the last three points, all from frees including a dramatically 64th minute winner.

Up to the 40-minute mark, a more clinical Clare seemed set to maintain their unbeaten start to this year’s provincial series. Near misses for David Nyhan and Ben Qualter were duly punished at the other end when Ruben Fallon cleverly played in Donncha O’Dwyer to nestle his shot in the left corner of the Waterford net by the ninth minute at 1-3 to 0-1.

Impressive two-pointers from goalkeeper O’Gorman and Sean Fennell was contrasted by two further goal sightings for Waterford as Clare eased to a 1-8 to 0-4 interval cushion.

Early points through chief threats Joe Brennan and Paddy McCarthy offered hope for the visitors until Daire Culligan wiped out all of Waterford’s good work with a thunderous goal in the 37th minute at 2-8 to 0-7.

Crucially, Nyhan struck for goal in the next passage of play and it seemed as if a weight had finally been lifted off Waterford’s shoulders as they played with real freedom and belief for the remainder to remain in the hunt for the Corn na Casca.

Indeed, it’s winner-takes-all for the Munster Under 20 final berths next Wednesday when Cork host Waterford and Clare make the trip to Traleee to take on a five-in-a-row chasing Kerry.

Scorers for Waterford: P McCarthy 0-6 (5f); J Brennan 1-3 (2f); D Nyhan 1-2; B Qualter, C Royle, A Curran 0-1 each 

Clare: D O’Dwyer, D Culligan 1-2 each; S Fennell (1tp), H O’Gorman (1tpf, 1’45) 0-3 each; C Breen 0-2; S Culligan 0-1 

Waterford: C Drohan (Rathgormack); N Fahy (Rathgormack),, B Boland (St. Saviour’s), A Ryan (The Nire); D Jacob (St. Saviour’s), F O’Brien (Gaultier), D Nyhan (Brickey Rangers); D Mackle (Ballinacourty), D Colleran (Brickey Rangers); C Power (Rathgormack), B Qualter (An Rinn), A Curran (Stradbally); J Brennan (Tramore), P McCarthy (Brickey Rangers), C Royle (Brickey Rangers) 

Subs: C Cotter (Geraldines) for Jacob (52), P Bagnall (Tramore) for Mackle (53), J Foley (Affane/Cappoquin/Tourin) for Power (55) 

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

Subs: C Hill (Lissycasey) for Murphy (38), S Culligan (Cooraclare) for Breen (48), S Kirby (Corofin) for Brody (58, inj)

Referee: J Regan (Cork)