Cleary powered minors stroll to 20 point win

THE Waterford football fraternity are showing signs of matching Kilkenny’s lack of interest in mastering the size five. As well as Clare played in the first round of the Munster Minor Football Championship in Cusack Park last Saturday evening, it must be noted that Waterford were useless and looked chronically under-prepared.
Still, it is quite a achievement that the Clare full-forward line scored 1-16 between them. 1-13 of that return was scored by the Cleary twins from Miltown Malbay whose finishing, from play and frees, allied to their movement, was exceptional.
Barry Lynch also looked the part at corner-forward in an inside line that Waterford couldn’t cope with.
Clare’s next game will be at home to Tipperary on Wednesday, May 16. The reigning All-Ireland champions beat Kerry in Tralee on Saturday evening.
As for Clare, they led 1-10 to 0-2 at half-time. Eoin Cleary scored the Clare goal in the eighth minute after a Waterford kick-out went disastrously awry. Cleary dribbled towards the Waterford goalkeeper Andrew Kirwan and finished clinically with his right foot. He added five first-half points while his twin notched three, with Lynch and Niall Deasy completing the scoring.
Ryan Donnelly put over both of Waterford’s points from frees.
Clare tagged on another 1-10 in the second half, with Jamie Malone and goalscorer Conor Deasy backing up the Clearys, Lynch and Niall Deasy, all of whom scored again during the second period.
This was a facile win for Clare who nonetheless looked well prepared and played some nice football. On the few occasions that Waterford managed to get a few kicks, Clare had most of their players defending behind the ball.
They will have a tougher time of it against Tipperary but they can prepare for that game on the back of a comprehensive win achieved in an albeit not very competitive game.

Clare: Liam Corbett (Corofin); Fergal Pyne (Killimer), Seán Garry (Cooraclare), Jack Brown (Kilrush); Conor McNeilis (Clondegad), Cian Murray (Kilrush), Mark Bohannon (Shannon Gaels); Jamie Malone (Corofin, captain), Eoin Hanrahan (Doora-Barefield); Seán Corry (Éire Óg), Niall Deasy (Ballyea), Tadhg Lynch (Ballyea); Barry Lynch (Lissycasey), Eoin Cleary (Miltown), Conor Cleary (Miltown).
Subs: Stephen McGuire (Kilkee) for Seán Corry, Conor Deasy (Sixmilebridge) for Tadhg Lynch, Niall Pender (Kilmihil) for Conor Cleary, Eoin Clancy for Mark Bohannon, Cian Burke for Eoin Cleary.
Scorers: Eoin Cleary (1-8, 0-5f, 1 45’), Conor Cleary (0-5, 0-2f), Barry Lynch (0-3), Conor Deasy (1-0), Jamie Malone, Niall Deasy (0-2 each). 
Wides: 4; frees won: 23; 45s: 2.
Yellow cards: Fergal Pyne, Cian Murray.

Waterford: Andrew Kirwan; Darragh Fitzgerald, Brian Looby, Stephen Halley; Tom Devin, Tadgh Burke, Jamie Barron (captain); Martin Houlihan, Michael Casey; Michael Curry, Michael Kiely, Seán O’Donovan; Adam O’Donoghue, Paul O’Connor, Ryan Donnelly.
Subs: Conor Gleeson for Michael Casey, Donal Scanlon for Martin Houlihan, Craig Burke for Darragh Fitzgerald, Laurence Houlihan for Michael Curry.
Scorers: Ryan Donnelly (0-4f), Donal Scanlon (0-1).
Wides: 5; frees won: 25; 45s: 0.
Yellow cards: Michael Casey, Ryan Donnelly.

Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary).