Waterford beat Clare by 6-9 to 4-12 in a thrilling encounter at sun-kissed Fraher Field this evening.

The winners will now host Cork at the same venue on May 7th for a place in the provincial final.

The confident hosts were rampant in the first half as they led from the get-go and compiled a massive 4-4 to 1-4 interval lead.

Joe Allen issued an early statement of intent, slamming the ball to the back of the Clare net after just twelve seconds.

Allen, Dylan Guiry, Aaron Donnelly and Conor Prunty fired the first-half goals as the irrepressible winners took proceedings by the scruff of the neck.

In response to a Darren Nagle three-pointer, Waterford added their second major through Guiry at the midway stage in the first half, to make it double scores (2-2 to 1-1) after the Banner boys has reduced their arrears to the minimum.

Clare again closed within two points but Owen Curran's lads were not in the mood for hanging about and they slotted two more majors (through Donnelly in the 23rd minute and Prunty on the stroke of half time) to lead by three goals at the short whistle.

The losers threw everything including the kitchen sink at Waterford after the restart but second-half goals from Prunty and Allen ensured Na Deise of a place in the last four.

Clare came out like a team transformed for the second 30 minutes and had closed the gap to three points within nine minutes of the restart - 4-5 to 2-8, Keelan Sexton netting the second of their goal.

Prunty registered his second goal for the winners in the 44th minute.

As the scores continued to fly in (and over) at both ends, two Clare goals in as many minutes (from Sexton and Evan Courtney) had them level with nine minutes remaining, 4-10 to 5-7.

All the momentum was now with the visitors but Waterford showed tremendous character in the closing stages to bag a sixth goal through Allen and therefore fashion a famous win.

This was Na Deise's second outing in the minor football championship this year and both those games have been played in Dungarvan, which will also host their third next week.

In the first round, on Wednesday, April 16th, Owen Curran's men gave Tipperary a real run for their money before losing by four points, 2-11 to 2-7. The Banner County, meanwhile, managed by Aidan O'Keefe, were comprehensively beaten by Kerry in their opener at Ennis 13 days ago but got their campaign back on track with a comfortable victory over Limerick in Newcastlewest last Wednesday.

Their season is over now, however, but not before contributing to one of the games of the year.

Waterford - C Brown; C O'Neill, J Guiry, M Cronin; J Mullaney, E O'Halloran, M Shine; C Curran, C Prunty (2-0); D Guiry (1-0), C Murray, A Donnelly (1-0); D Lyons, C Gleeson (0-5, 3f), J Allen (2-4, 0-1f). Subs: J Elstead for M Shine, M Sweeney for D Lyons, G Hearne for D Guiry, P Whyte for A Donnelly, C Culloo for C Curran.

Clare - K Normoyle; L Tierney, P Lillis, C Downes; C O'Dea, B Cahill, C Pyne; D Nagle (1-0), J Woods; M Byrne, K Sexton (2-5, 0-2f), N McCarthy; A Davidson (0-4, 1f), E Courtney (1-1), L Madigan (0-2). Subs: E Hanrahan for C Pyne, L Howard for C Downes, M Duffy for M Byrne, B O'Connor for K Sexton.

Referee - D Grogan. Tweet

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