Minor footballers exit Munster in thriller

Waterford 6-9 Clare 4-12

CLARE exited the 2014 Munster minor football championship in a thrilling tie at Fraher Field in Dungarvan on Tuesday evening.

Both teams were committed to all out attack and notched some superb scores during 60 minutes of terrific attacking football, although the defending, at both ends, was not quite as impressive.

Waterford scored a goal with their first attack when Joe Allen netted 13 seconds after his team won the throw in. That set the tone for a magnificent spectacle.

Come half time the home county had added three more goals and led 4-4 to 1-4. Darren Nagle scored Clare’s first half goal with a top class finish while Evan Courtney, Liam Madigan and Keelan Sexton pointed some great scores.

The second half was full of goals with Sexton twice netting for Clare, while Evan Courtney added the remaining goal.

However every time Waterford attacked they looked dangerous and raised green flags too regularly for the Clare supporters liking.

Clare showed admirable spirit and having trailed 4-5 to 1-5 three minutes into the second half, they had drawn level, 5-7 to 4-10, eight minutes from time after Courtney’s goal.

However Waterford’s sixth goal, put away by Joe Allen, sealed the result for the home county who will play Cork in the Munster semi-final on May 22.

Although caught for six goals Clare played their hearts out and in players like Keelan Sexton, Aidan Davidson, James Woods and Evan Courtney had players who gave it everything.

Clare: Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey), Liam Tierney (St Breckan’s), Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare), ConorDownes (Naomh Eoin/O’Curry’s);Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora), Brian Cahill (Lissycasey – captain), Colm Pyne (Killimer); Darren Nagle (Liscannor), James Woods (Eire Og); Maccen Byrne (St Breckan’s), Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Niall McCarthy (Lissycasey); Aidan Davidson (St Breckan’s), Evan Courtney (Eire Og), Liam Madigan (Kilrush).

Subs: Eoin Hanrahan for Conor Downes, Levi Howard for Colm Pyne, Micheál Duffy for Maccen Byrne, Aaron Rudd for James Woods (black card), Brian O’Connor for Keelan Sexon (black card).

Scorers: Keelan Sexton (2-5, 0-1f), Evan Courtney (1-1), Aidan Davidson (0-4, 0-1f), Darren Nagle (1-0), Liam Madigan (0-2).

Waterford: Craig Brown; Ciaran O’Neill, Jack Guiry, Michael Cronin; Michael Shine, Edmond O’Halloran, Jack Mullaney; Cormac Curran, Conor Prunty; Dylan Guiry, Conor Murray, Aaron Donnelly; Joe Allen, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons.

Subs: John Elstead for Michael Shine (black card), Michael Sweeney for Darragh Lyons, Gearóid Hearne for Dylan Guiry, Pat Whyte for Aaron Donnelly, Cian Culloo for Cormac Curran (black card).

Scorers: Joe Allen (2-4, 0-1f), Conor Prunty (2-0), Conor Gleeson (0-4, 0-2f), Aaron Donnelly (1-0), Dylan Guiry (1-0).

Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary).