2024 McGrath Cup Football – Clare 3-18 Waterford 1-7

Clare defeated Waterford by 3-18 to 1-7 in Round 2 of the McGrath Cup Football competition on Sunday January 7th at Lemybrien.

Mark Fitzgerald secures first win as Clare boss with a comfortable victory over Waterfordhttps://t.co/WO7VJ9gayd

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) January 7, 2024

Mark Fitzgerald secures first win as Clare boss with a comfortable victory over Waterford

McGrath Cup Group B Round 2

Clare 3-18 Waterford 1-7

Report by Darragh O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

New Clare manager Mark Fitzgerald secured his first competitive win as Banner boss with a comfortable 17-point victory at a crisp, bright Lemybrien.

New Waterford boss Paul Shankley didn’t get off to the perfect start when the away side raised a green flag through Dermort Coughlan after five minutes, thanks to a breakdown in passing in the Déise defence. The home side couldn’t control full-forward Aaron Griffin as he scored four unanswered to stretch the lead, 1-5 to 0-2.

Waterford responded through Stephen ‘Gooch’ Curry and they got a chance to reduce the deficit even more when captain Liam Fennell was dragged down in the penalty area, leaving referee Brian Fleming no option but to award a penalty.

Up stepped his Rathgormack clubmate Jason Curry, but his spot kick was magnificently denied by Stephen Ryan, who used his colossal height to parry the shot away.

That close call woke the Banner as they responded with scores from Coughlan, Griffin, Diarmuid O’Donnell and a double from centre-back Alan Sweeney to head into the break leading 1-10 to 0-4.

Clare showed the gulf in class between the pair in the final 10 minutes of the game when they raised two further green flags. The first goal came from what looked like a lost cause, but the hard-working Shane Griffin got a toe on the loose ball and poked towards the free-roaming O’Brien, who left Paudie Hunt with no chance in the goal.

The third goal came with Fitzgerald’s side swiftly moving up the field, carving the centre of the Déise defence like a knife through butter, allowing sub-Cian Burke to lay off the ball to the roving Coughlan to secure his second goal of the game.

Waterford did manage a consolation goal from Stephen Curry, but they will despair over 13 wides.

Scorers for Clare: A Griffin (0-7, 1f), D Coughlan (2-1, 1f), D O’Brien (1-1), J Curran (0-3), A Sweeney (0-2), D O’Donnell, S Griffin, T McDonald and D Fahy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: S Curry (1-2), J Curry (0-2, 2fs), C Maguire, M Curry, N McSweeney (0-1 each).

Clare: S Ryan; M Doherty, J Guyler, R Lanigan; M Garry, A Sweeney, G Murray; D Walsh, B McNamara; D O’Brien, T McDonald, D Coughlan; S Griffin, A Griffin, D O’Donnell.
Subs: E Casey for D Walsh (27), T O’Callaghan for S Ryan, J Curran for B McNamara (both HT), K Malone for G Murray (40), C McMahon for M Garry (45), E O’Connor for J Guyler, D Fahy for D O’Donnell (49), C Burke for A Sweeney (54), M Garry for M Doherty (60).

Waterford: P Hunt; R Browne, C Walsh, C McCarthy; C Ò’Cuirrìn, M Curry, L Fennell; J Curry, J Keane; C Maguire, N McSweeney, J Sheehan; B Hynes, D Fitzgerald, S Curry.
Subs: J. Power for J Sheehan, A Dunwoody for D Fitzgerald, J Walsh for C Maguire (All HT), C MacCraith for C Ó Cuirrín, R McGrath for L. Fennell (both 44) S Cullinane for J Keane (52), M Kiely for N McSweeney (57 ), M O’Brien for R Browne (60).

Referee: Brian Flemming (Kerry).

Ticket Information

Live Streaming Information

This game will be streamed live by Clubber.ie at a cost of €11.99.

Click here to purchase Live Streaming for this game

Tomorrow afternoon on Clubber TV 📺

🏆 @MunsterGAA McGrath Cup 🏐
🆚 @WaterfordGAA vs @GaaClare
📅 Sunday, Jan 7th
🕒 2pm throw-in

Watch it LIVE or On-Demand exclusively on https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 🔗 pic.twitter.com/EumtvxNZas

— Clubber (@clubber) January 6, 2024

Team News

The Clare Senior Football side to take on Waterford in Round 2 of the @MunsterGAA McGrath Cup on Sunday at Kilrossanty GAA , Lemybrien . Tickets for the tie (as well as directions to Páirc Naomh Bríd) available at this link. Best of luck to the Banner ! https://t.co/GdvzCKpoHQ pic.twitter.com/gaMHEv4jRx

— Clare Gaa (@GaaClare) January 6, 2024

CLARE (against Waterford): S Ryan, M Doherty, C Rouine, R Lannigan, M Garry, A Sweeney, G Murray, D Walsh, B McNamara, C Downes, J Curran, D Coughlan, S Griffin, A Griffin, D O’Donnell
Subs: T O’Callaghan, J Guyler, T McDonald, M McInerney, E Casey, D O’Brien, C McMahon, C Burke, E O’Connor, K Malone, D Fahy

Newly appointed Waterford Senior Football Manager, Paul Shankey has just unveiled the McGrath Cup Team as they face Clare tomorrow in Lemybrien @ 2pm.
Wishing Paul and the squad the very best for 2024.

🎟️https://t.co/BHfJ0UM6Qo
📷Live streaming https://t.co/sMwfq7TPTX only pic.twitter.com/rgqFE6Tidh

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) January 6, 2024

WATERFORD (against Clare): P Hunt, R Browne, C Walsh, C McCarthy, C Ò’Cuirrìn , M Curry, L Fennell (C), J Curry, J Keane, C Maguire, N McSweeney, J Sheehan, B Hynes, D Fitzgerald, S Curry.
Subs: J Sheridan, A Dunwoody, B O’Keefe, S Cullinane, R McGrath, J O’Connell, C MacCraith, R Lynch, M Kiely, J Power, A Ryan.