Clare minors well beaten in Waterford

Waterford 4-18   Clare 1-10

THE scoreline indicates the clear gulf between the Waterford and Clare minor hurlers. Played in perfect conditions in sunny Dungarvan, the home county all too easily secured a place in the Munster semi-final against Cork on June 26.

 

Their forwards ran rings around the Clare defence, with Cormac Curran, Patrick Curran and Michael Kearney producing an array of sublime moments and magnificent scores.

The Clare defence were far too obliging, allowing the Waterford forwards ridiculous time and space in which to hurl.

While it wasn’t a good night for the Clare backs, the only forward to score after the fourth minute was free-taker Bobby Duggan. Alex Morey and full-forward David Begley put over Clare’s early points but, after that, Duggan was the only player wearing Saffron and Blue capable of raising a flag.

As disappointing as the hammering they were handed was, worse was the fact that Clare displayed hardly any sign of wanting to give all they could. They hurled at a tempo far removed from Waterford, whose skill level and desire far exceeded their opponents.

Playing with a reasonably strong breeze in the opening half, Clare struggled to make their way into the game. While six Waterford men, including both midfielders, put over scores, Bobby Duggan hit six of Clare’s eight points. The Clarecastle man, who would have missed the original fixture two weeks ago due to a hand injury, put over four first half frees and a late 65’.

Conor Gleeson scored the Waterford goal in the ninth minute. The Clare full-back line were caught out by a clever pass over the top and the net shook for the first of four goals.

Any plan Clare had to somehow play their way back into the game was completely scuppered a minute into the second half when Cormac Curran goaled for the home county. Adam Farrell sent a lovely line ball across the goalmouth and Curran connected with Michael Kearney’s nicely timed break.

Bobby Duggan was the only Banner County forward to make any impression during the second half. He pointed two frees and buried a goal ten minutes from time. Apart from that, however, Clare were totally outplayed for most of that half and, indeed, the hour’s hurling.

Goalkeeper Liam Corbett also made a number of excellent saves and was sound under any high ball that dropped in. The remainder of the side were outplayed though, on an evening when Austin Gleeson played superbly for Waterford at centre-back.

Speaking afterwards Clare manager Eamon Fennessy expressed his disappointment but said his players had done their best.

“We knew coming down that Waterford were a fine team and we had our homework done on them but we just never seemed to get going.

“All I can say is that any of the lads that went out or the subs that came in didn’t put on a jersey to play badly,” he said.

“It just didn’t happen for them on the night and that’s one of the learning experiences they’ll take away out of today,” the Clare manager added.

Clare: Liam Corbett (Corofin); Shane O’Leary (Cratloe), David McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona), Niall Bolton (Tulla); Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley – captain), Eoin Tuohy (Feakle), Shane Gleeson (Cratloe); David Conroy (Doora-Barefield), Ciaran Downing (Clonlara); Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle), Colin Corbett (Tulla), Alex Morey (Sixmilebridge); Stephen Ward (Clarecastle), David Begley (Clonlara), Cian Moloney (Kilmaley).
Subs: Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin) for Ciaran Downey (22), Mark Lynch (Tulla), for Cian Moloney (37), Oisin Donnellan for Colin Corbett (39), Kevin Fennessy (Sixmilebridge) for David Conroy (51).
Scorers: Bobby Duggan (1-8, 0-6f, 0-1 65) David Begley, Alex Morey (0-1 each).
Wides: 7   Frees: 9   65s: 2
Yellow cards: Niall Bolton, David McCarthy, Alex Morey.

Waterford: Seán Clancy; William Hahessy, Sam O’Neill, Barry Whelan; Tom Devine, Austin Gleeson, Shane Bennett; Michael Harney, Mark O’Brien; Cormac Curran, Colm Roche, Adam Farrell; Patrick Curran, Conor Gleeson, Michael Kearney.
Subs: Stephen Bennett for Colm Roche (39), Kevin Daly for Barry Whelan (48), DJ Foran for Michael Kearney (48), Paul O’Connor for Patrick Curran (55).
Scorers: Patrick Curran (0-6, 1 65), Cormac Curran (1-3), Stephen Bennett (2-0, 1-0 pen), Adam Farrell (0-2), Michael Kearney (0-3), Conor Gleeson (1-0), Mark O’Brien, Micheál Harney, DJ Foran, Christy Breathnach (0-1 each).
Wides: 9   Frees: 6   65s: 2
Yellow cards: Micheál Harney, Austin Gleeson, Stephen Bennett.

Referee: Anthony Sherlock (Tipperary).