Munster MHC: Waterford oust Clare in thriller
June 25, 2014
Fraher Field, Dungarvan was the venue for the minor hurling semi-final between Waterford and Clare.
©INPHO/James Crombie.
In a match that ebbed one way and then the other, home goalkeeper Billy Nolan was the Decies hero as his stunning injury-time save stamped the hosts' ticket to the Munster decider, where they now await the winners of tomorrow night's second semi-final between Limerick and Cork.
A spirited Waterford outfit led by six points at the end of an exciting first half that produced as many as four goals - 2-8 to 2-2.
Waterford came roaring out of the blocks and Patrick Curran's early goal helped them into a 1-6 to no score lead.
However, when the Banner County did get on the scoreboard they did so in style: a brace of goals from Aaron Shanagher brought them right back into the match coming up to the halfway point in the first half.
As the scores dried up, Na Deise hit two of the next three points to lead by 1-8 to 2-1 after 25 minutes. Shane Bennett was on hand to register the home side's second three-pointer and they led by 2-8 to 2-2 at the interval.
The Banner men started the second half brightly with a run of three unanswered points to halve the deficit but they were momentarily stopped in their tracks by the dismissal of Michael O'Malley.
However, Colin Corbett's fourth consecutive score reduced the gap to one point and the away team knocked over two more to take the lead for the first time, 2-9 to 2-8 - seven Clare points in a row!
It was nail-biting stuff as the sides were deadlocked with a few minutes left but Bennett's 58th-minute free put Waterford back in front, 2-12 to 2-11. Curran added another point and the hosts held on by the skin of their teeth.
Waterford - B Nolan; E Hayden, MJ Sutton, M Cronin; J Mullaney, C Roche, C Prunty; D Lyons, A Molumby; S Bennett (1-2, 0-2f), C Gleeson (0-2), C Curran; P Hogan, A O'Sullivan (0-1), P Curran (1-7, 0-4f). Subs: S Ryan for A O'Sullivan, E Meaney (0-1) for P Hogan, J Allen for C Curran, D Prendergast for E Hayden.
Clare - J Loughnane; C Cooney, S Downey, R Hayes; J McCarthy (0-1), D Walsh, B O'Gorman; M O'Malley (0-1), D Fitzgerald (0-1); C Corbett (0-4, 3f), M O'Shea, I Galvin (0-1); P McNamara, A Shanagher (2-2, 0-1f), B Guilfoyle (0-1). Subs: G Whyte (0-1) for M O'Shea, L O'Donovan for P McNamara, D Chaplin for C Corbett.
Referee - J McCormack. Tweet
