Munster MHC: Lohan's Clare edge through

Conor McGrath's injury-time point gave Clare a dramatic victory over Waterford in last night's Munster MHC opener at Dungarvan.

Clare 1-12
Waterford 0-14

Extra-time had looked to be on the cards until McGrath - who top-scored with 1-7 - scored the winning point for Brian Lohan's side right at the death. The issue was in the balance throughout with the visitors leading by 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time.

However, with Philip Mahony dominant at the back and Martin O'Neill hitting seven points from midfield, Waterford took control early in the second half and led at three-quarter way stage.

But disaster struck for Waterford eight minutes from the end when a McGrath free from 70 metres skidded off the fingers of goalkeeper Stephen O'Keeffe and into the net for the only goal. That made it 1-9 to 0-10, but once again the home side fought back to level before McGrath's late strike finally settled the issue.

Clare - R Taaffe; N Purcell, K Ryan, T Purcell; C McGuane, P O'Connor 0-1, C McInerney; S O'Connor, S Golden; D Keane 0-2, E Hanrahan 0-1, G Guilfoyle; D O'Halloran, A Considine, C McGrath 1-7. Subs: C O'Donnell 0-1 for Considine, C Ryan for Hanrahan.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; L Egan, T Costello, C Looby; J Dee, M O'Neill 0-8, D Fives; P Mahony, M Wyse; J Prendergast, B O'Halloran 0-3, P Mahony 0-3; E Murphy, K Moore, J Dillon. Subs: G Daniels for Looby, R Cahill for Prendergast, P Prendergast for Murphy.

Ref - Colm Lyons (Cork)