Munster Senior Hurling Quarter Final – Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15

Clare power past Waterford in Thurles

Report from the GAA.ie web site

Munster GAA Hurling Championship Quarter-Final: Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15

A superb second half performance from Clare saw them overturn a four-point half-time deficit against Waterford in Thurles and cruise into the Munster hurling semi-finals. A poor first half ended with Waterford 1-9 to 0-8 ahead, but Clare started the second half well and quickly got back on level terms. Then, two goals in the final quarter, from Shane O’Donnell and Conor McGrath, proved absolutely decisive as it took Clare away from the tiring Déise on the scoreboard. McGrath’s goal, on 61 minutes, made it 2-15 to 1-12 with less than 10 minutes to play. Waterford battled to get back into the game in the closing minutes, but Clare were impressive winners in the end, and saw out the win with confidence. They will now play Cork in the Munster semi-final on Sunday, June 23.

Waterford led 1-9 to 0-8 after a relatively low-key first-half which never really took fire. Clare made a blistering start to the game, and had four points on the board within the first few minutes, Colin Ryan (65), Tony Kelly and John Conlon (2) all finding their range to give Davy Fitzgerald’s side the perfect start. Conlon’s points in particular were classy efforts, and it looked like Clare’s young side were set to charge into the Déise. However, Jake Dillon’s goal on eight minutes quickly checked the Banner stride. It came about from a defensive slip from Pat Donnellan, who failed to clear, allowing Dillon to win possession and charge towards goal. The championship debutant kept his cool, and fired low to the net past Patrick Kelly to make it 1-0 to 0-4.

Dillon followed it up with a fine point, and Clare struck just two of the next seven scores as Waterford took control of the game. Seamus Prendergast’s point after 15 minutes levelled up the sides, and Paraic Mahony and Maurice Shanahan also got their names on the scoresheet as Waterford moved into a 1-6 to 0-6 lead by the 25th minute. A fine score from another Waterford championship debutant, Jamie Barron, extended the lead to four and made it five Waterford points without reply on 29 minutes. However, Conlon ended that streak for Clare with their first point in 14 minutes. The sides exchanged scores before the break but a Shanahan free kept Waterford four ahead going in.

Waterford struggled at the start of the second half and points from Clare duo Kelly and Ryan cut the deficit to two points on 47 minutes. Shanahan got Waterford off the mark for the second half with a free on 48 minutes, but the tide was clearly turning in Clare’s favour. Inspired by a brilliant second-half display from 2012 All Star Brendan Bugler, Clare were winning an increasing amount of possession, and causing problems for the Waterford defence. They were winning a considerable amount of frees, and Colin Ryan brought them level on 50 minutes at 0-13 to 1-10 with a typically well-struck placed ball.

On 55 minutes, Clare moved ahead for the first time since the midway point of the first half when O’Donnell found the net. It came about from a 21 metre free. Tony Kelly’s goalbound shot was blocked away by Waterford, but they failed to clear fully, with the ball eventually falling to 18-year-old O’Donnell, who struck powerfully to the net. It was O’Donnell’s last act in the game, as he was replaced seconds later by Podge Collins. The impressive Darach Honan and Shanahan traded scores after the goal to leave three still between the teams going into the final 10 minutes, but then McGrath’s goal effectively wrapped things up for Clare. McGrath anticipated the breaking ball from a high pass played in, and he composed himself before firing to the net to make it 2-15 to 1-12.

Waterford weren’t fully dead and buried after that score, and points from Gavin O’Brien, Dillon and Prendergast gave them a chance in the closing stages. However, they needed a goal and the closest they came was when Prendergast’s shot fizzed over the bar when a goal chance was on. Once that chance was passed up, Clare coasted to the win, and finished the match out in style. Midfielder Colm Galvin knocked over two excellent points from distance in the closing stages of the game to add polish to an encouraging result for Clare, their first win in the Munster Hurling Championship since 2008.

Scorers for Clare: C Ryan 0-7 (6f, 1 65′), T Kelly 0-4, J Conlon 0-3, D Honan 0-3, C MGrath 1-0, S O’Donnell 1-0, C Galvin 0-2, F Lynch 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: M Shanahan 0-7 (6f), J Dillon 1-2, S Prendergast 0-2, P Mahony 0-1, J Barron 0-1, K Moran 0-1, G O’Brien 0-1.

Clare: Patrick Kelly; Donal O’Donovan, David McInerney, Seadna Morey; Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan, Pat O’Connor; Cian Dillon, Colm Galvin; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Colin Ryan; Darach Honan, Shane O Donnell, Conor McGrath.

Subs: Peter Duggan for Morey (29), Podge Collins for O’Donnell (55), Fergal Lynch for Duggan (68).

Waterford: I O’Regan; D Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors; J Nagle, M Walsh, P Prendergast; S O’Sullivan, K Moran; M Shanahan, S Prendergast, B O’Halloran; J Barron, P Mahony, J Dillon.

Subs: Ray Barry for O’Halloran (17), Gavin O’Brien for Barron (56), Martin O’Neill for Mahony (63)

Referee – James McGrath (Westmeath)

Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15

Report from the RTE.ie web site

Shane O’Donnell and Conor McGrath swooped for second half goals as Clare beat Waterford 2-20 to 1-15 for their first Munster SHC win since 2008. Davy Fitzgerald’s charges dominated the closing stages in Thurles, with Brendan Bugler and Colm Galvin particularly impressive. Jake Dillon’s eighth-minute goal, allied to Maurice Shanahan’s four-point haul, gave the Déise a 1-09 to 0-08 interval lead. But with Championship debutant O’Donnell (55 minutes) and McGrath (62) both finding the net, the Banner men progressed to a meeting with Cork. Waterford lined out as selected, with Under-21 players Paudie Prendergast, Jamie Barron and Dillon making their Championship bows. Clare, with their own sprinkling of young SHC newcomers, drafted in Darach Honan and Cian Dillon for Padraic Collins and Conor Ryan respectively before the throw-in, moving Seadna Morey to midfield in the process.

Colin Ryan rifled over a central ‘65’ to move Clare ahead in the third minute, swiftly followed by a driven John Conlon effort from the right. Clare’s spritely start continued with Conlon breaking free of Kevin Moran’s clutches for his second point from play, and Tony Kelly profited from a neat Colm Galvin set-up to make it 0-04 to 0-00. But Waterford burst into life with an eighth minute goal. Clare captain Patrick Donnellan failed to clear his lines and Dillon gobbled up possession to race through and his low, well-placed shot gave goalkeeper Patrick Kelly little chance. Dillon then capitalised on some loose defending by Domhnall O’Donovan to draw the Déise level. As the tempo quickened, Honan edged Clare back in front by the 12th minute.

Nerves were evident as Kelly, Ryan and Waterford free-taker Mahony struck wides, before the experienced Seamus Prendergast plundered an excellent point from centre-field. It remained nip and tuck as Ryan (free) and Mahony traded scores, but Waterford edged ahead for the first time in the 21st minute as the influential Jamie Nagle fed Shanahan, who rose over David McInerney and pointed brilliantly on the turn. The 20-year-old McInerney had been doing well to keep Shanahan quiet at full-forward, however Shanahan then won and pointed a free to open up a 1-05 to 0-06 lead.

Another fine catch from Shanahan led to a free on Paudie Prendergast with the former duly lobbing over his third point on the trot. Jamie Barron opened his account with a well-struck effort as the half hour approached, with Clare’s Morey, who was nursing an elbow injury in the lead up to this game, replaced by Championship debutant Peter Duggan. Both sides were guilty of sloppy play at times, which was understandable given their lack of recent competitive action, and the Banner men ended their 15-minute scoreless spell through Conlon.

The margin was widened to four points as a poor Clare puck-out by punished by an ever-alert Moran and although Kelly replied from a tight angle, Shanahan closed out the first half by clipping over a late free. Waterford’s half-back line, marshalled by Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh and Nagle, was growing in influence and their effective use of possession was giving Shanahan and others the opportunity to make it count. Clare’s danger men up front were being starved of possession and Conlon, their most potent forward, blew a goal-scoring chance with a wayward hand-pass to Honan. The quality of hurling continued to drop during a lacklustre start to the second period, a scoreless eight minutes doing little for either team’s confidence.

But a smashing run and point from Kelly lifted Clare and a subsequent Ryan free, following good play from O’Donnell, cut the gap to 1-09 to 0-10. It was back to a one-point game after Ryan converted two frees in response to Shanahan’s fifth of the day, and another close range strike from Ryan had Clare level in the 51st minute. Shanahan re-established Waterford’s lead from a placed ball, but Michael Ryan’s side were beginning to waiver as the young Banner side made their mark. Honan swung over a lovely point from the right and as Waterford’s wides tally increased to 13, Clare continued to prosper.

Kelly went for goal from a close range free, his full-blooded shot was batted away but an immediate Duggan block gave teenager O’Donnell the opportunity to fire home the lead goal at 1-14 to 1-11. The 18-year-old O’Donnell barely had time to celebrate his score before he was called ashore and replaced by Padraic Collins. Honan’s third point of the afternoon followed to underline Clare’s sudden dominance. Shanahan answered back from a placed ball, but once a high ball broke for McGrath to find the bottom left corner of the Waterford net, Clare were home and hosed. Substitute Gavin O’Brien, Dillon and Seamus Prendergast, who improvised impressively after a blundered free from Shanahan, kept Waterford in the hunt with points in the final 10 minutes.

However, with the Bugler-led defence tightening up significantly, Clare broke forward for a string of late scores – Kelly and substitute Fergal Lynch both claimed one, young midfielder Galvin hit a stylish brace from distance and free-taker Ryan topped off his seven-point contribution. The manner of Clare’s finish gave their supporters in the 12,103-strong crowd plenty of encouragement for the next day out, however Fitzgerald was already talking afterwards of the improvements needed for the semi-final clash with Cork.

CLARE: Patrick Kelly; Domhnall O’Donovan, David McInerney, Cian Dillon; Brendan Bugler, Patrick Donnellan (capt), Patrick O’Connor; Colm Galvin (0-02), Seadna Morey; John Conlon (0-03), Tony Kelly (0-04), Colin Ryan (0-07, 0-06f, 0-01 ‘65’); Darach Honan (0-03), Shane O’Donnell (1-00), Conor McGrath (1-00).

Subs used: Peter Duggan for Morey (29 mins), Padraic Collins for O’Donnell (55), Fergal Lynch (0-01) for Duggan (68).

WATERFORD: Ian O’Regan; Darragh Fives, Liam Lawlor, Noel Connors; Jamie Nagle, Michael Walsh, Paudie Prendergast; Shane O’Sullivan, Kevin Moran (capt) (0-01); Maurice Shanahan (0-07, 0-06f), Seamus Prendergast (0-02), Brian O’Halloran; Jamie Barron (0-01), Pauric Mahony (0-01), Jake Dillon (1-02).

Subs used: Ray Barry for O’Halloran (17 mins), Gavin O’Brien (0-01) for Barron (56), Martin O’Neill for Mahony (63).

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)

Team News

Clare SH v Waterford – Patrick Kelly; Donal O’Donovan, David McInerney, Seadna Morey; Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan (capt), Pat O Connor; Conor Ryan, Colm Galvin; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Colin Ryan; Padraig Collins, Shane O Donnell, Conor McGrath

Waterford SH v Clare: Ian O’Regan (Mount Sion); Darragh Fives (Tourin), Liam Lawlor (Fourmilewater), Noel Connors (Passage); Jamie Nagle (Dungarvan), Michael Walsh (Stradbally), Paudie Prendergast (Lismore); Shane O’Sullivan (Ballygunner), Kevin Moran (De La Salle, Captain); Maurice Shanahan (Lismore), Seamus Prendergast (Ardmore), Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg); Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater), Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner), Jake Dillon (De La Salle)

Admission Details

Adult Tickets

• Covered Stand – €25
• Uncovered Stand – €20
• Killinan End Terrace – €15

Concessions (Students / OAPs)

–      €10 concession for Covered stand only

–      €5 concession for terraces

–      Process – purchase full price ticket and get your discount at a specific style on the day (with valid ID)

Family tickets

–      Full price Stand ticket + €5 per child (U16)

–      Must be purchased as a package, e.g. 2 adults + 2 kids

Group Discounts (bought through the club or county board)

• Covered Stand – €20
• Uncovered Stand – €15
• Killinan End Terrace – €10

–      Group discount of €5 available when purchasing 15 or more tickets through your club

–      The group discount for clubs is for adult tickets only & cannot be combined with other concessions

Juvenile Groups

–      €3 per juvenile + 1 adult free for every 10 juveniles

–      Example – 20 juveniles (U16) + 2 mentors = €60

–      Must be ordered in advance through the County Board

Click here to purchase tickets online

Match Coverage

This game is being shown live by RTE TV

For the Record

Munster GAA HURLING Senior Championship 2013

Quarter-Final

Sunday June 2^nd

@ Semple Stadium Thurles           Clare v Waterford 4:00pm

Semi-Finals
Sunday June 9^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick           Limerick v Tipperary 4:00pm

Sunday June 23^rd

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick           Cork v Clare or Waterford 4:00pm
or Semple Stadium Thurles

Final

Sunday July 14^th

4:00pm throw-in

Useful Information

Clare have failed to record a Munster Championship victory in 8 of the last 9 seasons.

Clare have not drawn a match in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship since finishing level with Tipperary in 1999.

Waterford have qualified for 9 of the last 15 Munster Finals including the last 4 (1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). This is in contrast to the previous 31 Munster Finals between 1967 and 1997 during which time Waterford qualified just 3 times, losing on each occasion in 1982, 1983 and 1989).

The 4 games in the 2012 Munster Senior Hurling Championship produced an average of 40.5 scores per game. There were 43 scores per game in the 2011 Munster SHC as compared to 34 scores per match in the 2010 Munster SHC. The highest scoring game in 2012 yielded 47 scores, the semi-final victory for Tipperary over Cork by 1-22 to 0-24.

Over the last 4 seasons, Semple Stadium Thurles has played host to 11 of the 18 Munster Senior Hurling Championship matches played. Pairc Ui Chaoimh hosted 5 matches while Pairc na nGael in Limerick hosted 2 games.

Tipperary have won 10 of their last 11 matches in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship dating back to 2008, winning 4 of the 5 Munster titles on offer in that period. Their only defeat came at the hands of Cork in May 2010, a 3-15 to 0-14 defeat at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Tipperary are looking to become the first county to win 3 Munster Senior Hurling titles in a row since Tipperary achieved this accomplishment from 1987 to 1989.

Waterford is the only Munster county to have at least 1 victory in the last 4 Munster Senior Hurling Championships. Cork won at least 1 Munster Senior Hurling Championship match from 2003 to 2007 (5 consecutive years). Aside from that Cork period of dominance, only Tipperary (2000 to 2002) and Waterford (2002 to 2004 and 2009 to 2011) have managed to go 3 consecutive years with at least 1 victory within the last decade.

Limerick have won 1 of the last 17 Munster Senior Hurling Championship matches they have played, an extra-time victory over Tipperary in the 2007 Munster Semi-Final 2^nd replay at the Gaelic Grounds. During that period, Limerick have drawn 5 times. Limerick’s last Championship victory away from Pairc na nGael came in 2001 with victories over Cork and Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Tipperary’s Pa Bourke was the top scorer in the 2012 Munster Senior Hurling Championship, scoring 1-21 (0-13 from frees and 3 65’s) in 3 matches. Maurice Shanahan (Waterford) finished second with 15 points (10 from frees and 1 65). Noel McGrath was third on the scoring charts with 1-10, all from play while Pat Horgan (Cork) finished fourth with 11 points (9 from frees) from just 1 game.

Limerick and Tipperary have both lost 26 Munster Senior Hurling Finals. Cork have lost 29.

Last Five Championship Clashes

2012: Waterford 2-17 Clare 1-18 (Munster semi-final)

2010: Waterford 0-22 Clare 1-15 (2010 Munster semi-final)

2008: Clare 2-26 Waterford 0-23 (Munster quarter-final)

2005: Clare 4-14 Waterford 0-21 (All-Ireland qualifier)

2004: Waterford 3-21 Clare 1-8 (Munster 1st round)

Waterford 3; Clare 2

Munster GAA HURLING Senior Championship Roll Of Honour

Cork (50) – 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1912, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006

Tipperary (40) – 1895, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012

Limerick (18) – 1897, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, 1923, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1955, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1994, 1996

Waterford (9) – 1938, 1948, 1957, 1959, 1963, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010

Clare (6) – 1889, 1914, 1932, 1995, 1997, 1998

Kerry (1) – 1891

Munster GAA HURLING Senior Championship – List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began 1888 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/sh_teams/

Munster Senior HURLING Cup

No Name – Presented by Munster Council in 1928, new cup presented in 1990

All Ireland GAA HURLING Senior Championship

In the Senior Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork are second on the list with 30 titles, 3 behind Kilkenny. Tipperary have won 26 All-Ireland titles. Limerick have 7 titles, their last one in 1973. Clare have won 3 titles in 1914, 1995 and 1997 while Waterford’s two titles came in 1948 and 1959. Kerry won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final in 1891.

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information