HL1A: Dillon the Deise hero
February 24, 2013
Clare's Shane O'Donnell and Shane Fives of Waterford during the NHL game at Ennis. INPHO
Clare 1-17
A Cian Dillon free in the third minute of injury-time handed Waterford a dramatic victory over Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis.
Dillon held his nerve to send over the winner after the sides had been level on no fewer than five occasions in a riveting second half. Clare, in what was their first top-flight game since 2009, will be bitterly disappointed to suffer another narrow defeat to the Deise after also being pipped at the post in last year's Munster SHC semi-final.
But ultimately, the recently-crowned Waterford Crystal Cup winners were undone by the concession of two first half goals.
Brian O'Halloran opened the scoring for the visitors in the first minute before a Colin Ryan brace edged the Banner in front. Michael Ryan's charges regained parity before they took a firm grip on proceedings thanks to two goals in the space of three minutes.
Veteran Seamus Prendergast got the first in the 16th minute and then debutant Dillon raced through the middle to hammer home a second and leave Waterford 2-3 to 0-2 to the good after 18 minutes.
Davy Fitzgerald's charges dug in and, after Ryan posted their third and fourth points, John Conlon set up Tony Kelly for a goal to narrow the gap to two points, 1-4 to 2-3. Seadna Morey and Kelly raised further white flags to leave it a one-point game, 1-7 to 2-5, at the interval.
Morey brought the Banner level in the second half before Colin Ryan and Darragh Fives exchanged scores. Tony Kelly then gave the hosts the lead, only for Waterford to regain parity again. Ryan edged Clare ahead once again in the closing stages, but the visitors - and man of the match Dillon - weren't to be denied.
Waterford - S O'Keeffe; S Daniels, S Fives, N Connors; J Nagle, M Walsh, K Moran; S O'Sullivan, D Twomey; B O'Halloran (0-4), S Prendergast (1-1), J Dillon (1-5, 0-4f); G O'Brien, P Mahony (0-3, 0-3f), B O'Sullivan (0-1). Subs: D Fives (0-1) for D Twomey, J Barron for G O'Brien, R Barry for Mahony.
Clare - P Kelly; D O'Donovan, J McInerney, D McInerney; B Bugler, P Donellan, P O'Connor; S Morey (0-2), C Ryan (0-9, 0-4f, 0-1 '65); F Lynch (0-1), T Kelly (1-3), E Barrett; J Conlon, S O'Donnell (0-1), P Collins. Subs: C Galvin (0-1) for Barrett, N O'Connell for P O'Connor, A Cunningham for Collins, J Clancy for A Cunningham.
Referee - J Sexton. Tweet
