Waterford and Clare to do it all over again.

Waterford and Clare will have to do it all over again to see who will play Kerry in the semi finals of this year’s Munster Senior Football Championship after the two sides ended in deadlock at Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday evening.

Waterford would have gone into this game believing that they would advance to the next phase of the championship.

Clare looked to be the slightly better of the two sides for much of the game and looked as though they would be setting up a game with Kerry when they went 1-7 to 1-3 in front with just over twenty minutes of the game still to play, but a stubborn Waterford side refused to read such a script and three unanswered points at the end of the game will mean the sides will have to do it all over again.

The home side had a terrific start to this game, as ace forward David Tubridy landed an early point which was added to by an Enda Coughlan goal on six minutes after he finished to the net at the second attempt after Shane McGrath who had linked up well with Jamie Malone but McGrath’s initial attempt failed to get past Stephen Enright.

Gaultier’s JJ Hutchinson responded with a brace of points for Waterford to leave three between the sides with nine minutes on the clock.

Waterford were somewhat unlucky not to have drawn level as the home side did well to keep a Liam Ó Lonáin shot destined for the back of the net from reaching its intended target.

A brace of Shane McGrath points and one from Martin O’Leary had Clare 1-4 to 0-2 in front as the game reached the half hour mark and they were looking as though they would be advancing.

However, Clare lost some of their focus when Gordon Kelly was ordered off on a black card after he fouled Liam Ó Lonáin.

Waterford however came roaring back into contention when Paul Whyte did well to hamper the ball to the Clare net leaving just two between the sides.

Clare would however go into the dressing rooms at the break holding a three point advantage (1-5 to 1-2) having played against the wind when David Tubridy landed the last score of the half just before the half time whistle was blown.

The home side began the second half with Jamie Malone and Gary Brennan both having white flags raised to extend the three point lead that Clare had at the break to five.

Waterford’s response was to immediately send on Michael Curry for JJ Hutchinson and the Rathgormack man made an impact.

Paul Whyte landed a point for Waterford on forty eight minutes but it was followed with the ordering off of Waterford Captain Shane Briggs on a black card soon afterwards.

Michael Curry landed a point for Waterford with just over a quarter of a hour to play, and when Liam Ó Lonáin finished to the net to level matters on the score board.

Tadhg Ó hUallachain edged Waterford in front, but it was a short lived one as Shane McGrath and Sean Collins combined well to set up David Tubridy who finished to the net and put the home side back in front by two.

Gary Brennan extended that lead to three (2-8 to 2-5) with time ticking down on the referee’s watch, but Waterford refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded for their hard work.

Shane Ahearne put over a brace of points for Waterford and Paul Whyte landed one to level matters before the end of the game.

Podge Collins in the closing minutes became the second Clare man to be showed a black card by Conor Lane. Although eligible to play for the side in the replay, it looks however that Collins will miss out on playing in Fraher Field on Saturday evening next as he is likely to be involved with Davy Fitzgerald’s hurling team when they play Cork or Waterford in the Munster Semi final on Sunday afternoon next.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Shane Briggs, Maurice O’Gorman, Thomas O’Gorman; Conor Phelan, Dean Crowley; Tommy Prendergast, Paul Whyte; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Liam Ó Lonáin, Michael O’Gorman; Brian Wall, Shane Aherne, JJ Hutchison. Subs: Michael Curry for JJ Hutchison (42 mins), Declan Allen for Brian Wall (48 mins), Wayne Hutchison for Shane Briggs (49 mins, Black Card), David Grey  for Michael O’Gorman (56 mins), David Hallahan  for Oran Keevers (60 mins), Lorcan Ó Corraoin  for Conor Phelan (66 mins).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 1-2, Liam Ó Lonáin 1-0, Shane Ahearn (1free) JJ Hutchinson 0-2 each, Tadhg Ó hUallachain. Michael Curry 0-1 each.  

Clare: Joe Hayes; Dean Ryan, Kevin Harnett, Martin McMahon; Shane Hickey, Gordon Kelly, Ciaran Russell; Gary Brennan, Shane McGrath; Jamie Malone, Enda Coughlan, Sean Collins; Martin O’Leary, David Tubridy (1-2 1f), Padraic Collins. Subs: Shane Brennan for Gordon Kelly (31 mins, Black Card), Rory Donnelly for Martin O’Leary (50 mins), Eoin Cleary  for Jamie Malone (62 mins), Podge McMahon for Padraic Collins (71 mins, Black Card)

Scorers: David Tubridy 1-2 (0-1 each), Enda Coughlan 1-0, Gary Brennan, Shane McGrath 0-2 each, Jamie Malone, Martin O’Leary 0-1 each

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)