Morey’s goal crucial as Clare reach another provincial U-21 final

 

Clare  2-15 Waterford  0-17

Defending champions Clare are through to the Munster U-21 hurling championship final but they had to survive a number of anxious moments at Walsh Park in Waterford on Thursday evening before overcoming the home side.

In the final on Wednesday, August 7, they will face Tipperary in a repeat of last year’s decider but this time Clare will have to travel as the venue will be Semple Stadium in Thurles.

The sending off of Waterford wing back Paudie Prendergast, on a second yellow card, eight minutes into the second half, was a key factor in the outcome. Most agreed that his first yellow card, 23 minutes into the game, was harsh and many argued that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Equally many felt that the colour of the second card could have been red rather than yellow for a dangerously high tackle on Clare midfielder Colm Galvin.

Either way Prendergast’s dismissal was a huge blow to Waterford who were three points ahead at the time. Ten minutes later the home side was dealt another blow when the title-holders struck for the game’s opening goal, a score that saw them wrest the initiative.

Wing-back Seadna Morey, on the overlap, was put in the clear by Shane O’Donnell and the Sixmilebridge man saw his effort hit the net off the stick of keeper Darren Duggan.

A further 10 minutes on, the champions finally killed off the Waterford challenge with the game’s second goal when Alan Cunningham snapped up a breaking ball to fire low to the net. Only then was the game put to bed.

The loss of Tony Kelly after just ten minutes was certainly a big blow to Clare. The Ballyea man was rushed to hospital after sustaining an eye injury when struck with the sliothar from close range. Early indications are that he will make a full recovery but it remains to be seen if he will be fit in time for Clare’s All-Ireland senior quarter-final clash with Galway on Sunday week.

Jamie Shanahan, whom many were surprised didn’t make it into the starting line up, came in for Kelly.
The closeness of the tie didn’t come as a surprise to Clare’s joint manager Donal Moloney.

“There was nothing different to what we anticipated. Since the draw was made, this fixture had trouble and challenges written all over it. Waterford fought like tigers tonight.

“They had great tactics, they picked their team very well. they didn’t deserve to lose by four points. If we had got out of here with a draw we would have been quite happy,” the Scariff man said.

A rock solid pitch caused problems for players on both sides on a night when Clare will be somewhat concerned with the number of frees they conceded. Twelve of Waterford’s points came from placed balls and this is an area Clare will have to work on ahead of the final.

A skirmish near the sideline involving a number of players from both sides after just three minutes indicated the determination of both sides to win this one.

The winners went in front in the fourth minute when Daire Keane pointed and further points from Cathal O’Connell (free) and Peter Duggan (line ball) had them three ahead after nine minutes. Two minutes later Colin Curran opened the home team’s account.

At the mid-point of the half Clare led by double scores, 0-4 to 0-2. It was 0-8 to 0-5 with five minutes remaining in the half but it noticeable that Waterford were coming more into the game. They hit five unanswered points in as many minutes to take the lead and when the half time whistle sounded they were 0-10 to 0-9 in front.

Points were exchanged in the opening minutes of the second half before a brace of Jake Dillon frees saw the home side open a three point lead, 0-13 to 0-10. This was still the margin at the three quarter stage after the teams had exchanged points. A Cathal O’Connell free brought it back to two and then Clare struck a decisive blow.

A Paudge Collins break caused problems for the home defence and he found Shane O’Donnell who spotted the inrushing Seadna Morey. The Sixmilebridge man applied the finish, firing home from close range. The goal put Clare back in front, 1-12 to 0-14. Collins followed with a point and now the pressure was on 14-man Waterford.

The next ten minutes produced just two points, one to each side, but Clare will be somewhat disappointed with this return as they were guilty of hitting some bad wides.

Three minutes from time they finally killed off Waterford hopes when Aaron Cunningham ran on to a long delivery from Ronan Taaffe and fired low to the net. There was no way back for Waterford.

That Clare will have to improve if they are to defeat Tipperary in the final for the second year in a row is without question. They will have to be more disciplined as 11 of Waterford’s final tally came from frees.

That said, the defence did well for the most part with team captain Paul Flanagan, Stephen O’Halloran, David McInerney and Seadna Morey prominent. Colm Galvin and Jamie Shanahan did well at midfield but improvement is needed up front.

Clare: Ronan Taaffe (Tubber); Paul Flanagan (Ballyea, capt), David McInerney (Tulla), Jack Browne (Ballyea); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge, 1-0), Alan O’Neill (St Joseph’s, 0-1), Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle, 0-1); Colm Galvin (Clonlara, 0-1), Tony Kelly (Ballyea); Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin, 0-1), Paudge Collins (Cratloe, 0-1), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones, 1-0); Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara, 0-7, 5f), Daire Keane (Kilmaley, 0-1), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg).
Subs: Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge, 0-1) for Kelly (inj 10 minutes); Davy O’Halloran (Éire Óg, 0-1) for Keane (42 minutes); Cathal Malone (Ennistymon) for O’Donnell (51 minutes); Enda Boyce (Cratloe) for Shanahan (59 minutes); Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley) for Collins (61 minutes).
Waterford: Darren Duggan; Shane McNulty, Tadhg Bourke, Shane Roche; Ray Barry, Darragh Fives (capt), Paudie Prendergast; Kieran Power, Donie Breathnach (0-1); Jake Dillon (0-13, 11f), Eamonn Murphy, Colm Curran (0-1); Colin Dunford, Stephen Roche (0-1), Jamie Barron.
Subs: Pauric Mahony (0-1) for Dunford (39 minutes); Austin Gleeson for Barron (46 minutes); Cormac Heffernan for Murphy (48 minutes).
Referee: Johnnie Ryan, Tipperary.