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April 16 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Kilmihil Referee: James Regan (Cork)

Competition:

Dalata Hotel Group GAA Under 20 Munster Football Championship

Description:

Waterford defeated Clare by 2-14 to 2-13 in Round 2 of the Dalata Hotel Group GAA Under 20 Munster Football Championship Phase 2 on Thursday April 16th at Kilmihil.

All to play for as late McCarthy free sees Déise U20s stun Clare

Report by Eoin Brennan courtesy of the Irish Examiner newspaper

Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 2 Waterford 2-14 Clare 2-13

The Munster Under 20 Football race was blown wide open after Waterford resurrected their challenge with a Paddy McCarthy winning free with the last kick of the game in St Michael’s Park in Kilmihil.

With Kerry lowering the Déise by 23 points in the opening round while Clare and Cork shared the spoils, it would be a complete role reversal only seven days later as Cork and Waterford prevailed by the bare minimum.

Paul Power’s side’s feat was far more impressive as having been floored by a nine-point home reverse to the Banner County only three weeks earlier, Waterford again trailed by seven nearing the two-thirds mark at 2-8 to 0-07.

However, a goal through David Nyhan injected a new lease of life into the visitors who would complete a 2-3 unanswered blitz in just five minutes, Capped off by a superb second goal for talisman Joe Brennan to the far top right corner of the home net, the Déise actually snatched the lead for the very first time at 2-10 to 2-09 entering the final quarter.

A shellshocked Clare did dust themselves down to get back on track with the next four points through Daire Culligan (2), Donncha O’Dwyer and a ’45 from goalkeeper Harry O’Gorman at 2-12 to 2-10.

With a championship exit staring them in the face, a relentless Waterford simply refused to yield and they would incrementally keep the scoreboard ticking over as Paddy McCarthy converted the last three points, all from frees including a dramatically 64th minute winner.

Up to the 40-minute mark, a more clinical Clare seemed set to maintain their unbeaten start to this year’s provincial series. Near misses for David Nyhan and Ben Qualter were duly punished at the other end when Ruben Fallon cleverly played in Donncha O’Dwyer to nestle his shot in the left corner of the Waterford net by the ninth minute at 1-3 to 0-1.

Impressive two-pointers from goalkeeper O’Gorman and Sean Fennell was contrasted by two further goal sightings for Waterford as Clare eased to a 1-8 to 0-4 interval cushion.

Early points through chief threats Joe Brennan and Paddy McCarthy offered hope for the visitors until Daire Culligan wiped out all of Waterford’s good work with a thunderous goal in the 37th minute at 2-8 to 0-7.

Crucially, Nyhan struck for goal in the next passage of play and it seemed as if a weight had finally been lifted off Waterford’s shoulders as they played with real freedom and belief for the remainder to remain in the hunt for the Corn na Casca.

Indeed, it’s winner-takes-all for the Munster Under 20 final berths next Wednesday when Cork host Waterford and Clare make the trip to Traleee to take on a five-in-a-row chasing Kerry.

Scorers for Waterford: P McCarthy 0-6 (5f); J Brennan 1-3 (2f); D Nyhan 1-2; B Qualter, C Royle, A Curran 0-1 each

Clare: D O’Dwyer, D Culligan 1-2 each; S Fennell (1tp), H O’Gorman (1tpf, 1’45) 0-3 each; C Breen 0-2; S Culligan 0-1

Waterford: C Drohan (Rathgormack); N Fahy (Rathgormack),, B Boland (St. Saviour’s), A Ryan (The Nire); D Jacob (St. Saviour’s), F O’Brien (Gaultier), D Nyhan (Brickey Rangers); D Mackle (Ballinacourty), D Colleran (Brickey Rangers); C Power (Rathgormack), B Qualter (An Rinn), A Curran (Stradbally); J Brennan (Tramore), P McCarthy (Brickey Rangers), C Royle (Brickey Rangers)
Subs: C Cotter (Geraldines) for Jacob (52), P Bagnall (Tramore) for Mackle (53), J Foley (Affane/Cappoquin/Tourin) for Power (55)

Clare: H O’Gorman (Cooraclare); A Weaver (Lissycasey), L Griffin (Ennistymon), D Boyle (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield); D Brody (Ennistymon), S Murphy (St Joseph’s Miltown), M Kelly (Lissycasey); E Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), C Breen (Corofin); D O’Dwyer (St. Breckan’s), R Fallon (Kilmurry Ibrickane), D Townsend (Cooraclare); D Culligan (Lissycasey), S Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks), D McMahon (Lissycasey).
Subs: C Hill (Lissycasey) for Murphy (38), S Culligan (Cooraclare) for Breen (48), S Kirby (Corofin) for Brody (58, inj)

Referee: J Regan (Cork)

Team News

Ticket Information

Adults: €10
Students / OAPs: €5
Under 16’s: Free

Tickets are available from participating Centra and Supervalu outlets or online via the link below.

Click here to buy tickets

Team News

Clare: Harry O’Gorman, Aidan Weaver, Stephen Murphy, Aaron Killeen, Daniel Brody, Diarmuid Boyle, Michael Kelly, Evan Cahill, Seán Fennell, Darragh Townsend, Colm Breen, Donnchadh O’Dwyer, Diarmuid McMahon, Daire Culligan, Ruben Fallon.
Substitutes: James Garrihy, Aaron Townsend, Colm Downes, Cillian Kelly, Seán O’Dea, Louie Griffin, Simon Culligan, Seanan Kirby, Conor Hill.

Waterford U20 Footballers: Conor Drohan (Rathgormack), Andrew Ryan (The Nire), Ben Boland (St Saviours), Corey Lyons (Dungarvan), David Nyhan (Brickey Rangers), Fergal O’Brien (Gaultier), Darragh Jacob (St Saviours), Diarmuid Mackle (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty), Dáithí Colleran (Brickey Rangers), Aaron Curran (Stradbally), Ben Qualter (An Rinn), Ciarán Power (Rathgormack), Joe Brennan (Tramore), Paddy McCarthy (Brickey Rangers), Callum Royle (Brickey Rangers).
Substitutes: Darragh Walsh (Dungarvan), Paul Bagnall (Tramore), Niall Fahey (Rathgormack), Justin Foley (Affane/Cappoquin/Tourin), Darragh Murphy (Fenor), James Hickey (Modeligo), Ciarán Cotter (Geraldines), Liam Kiersey (Stradbally), Emmanuel Adebayo (Mount Sion).

Venue:

  • Kilmihil