Shanahan rescues draw for Waterford.

Waterford and Clare will have to do it all over again at Semple Stadium on Sunday next after the two sides drew after extra time in Thurles yesterday in this year’s National Hurling League Final.

In what was billed as a pre-championship meeting clash of the two sides which is to take place in early June both sides will be happy to get a second bite of the apple as neither side deserved to loose this game.

It had been predicted ahead of the game in some circles that this game might not be the prettiest game in the world and so it proved to be.

Neither side looked as if they were ever going to raise a green flag but did have chances but when they did come about the attacking players came up against goalkeepers in Stephen O’Keeffe and Patrick Kelly who both were hard to beat.

Over the course of the ninety plus minutes played in this game, the two sides shared thirty nine wides and for long periods of time with the lack of goals on the day it looked as if these wides could have cost one side dearly.

Conor McGrath opened the scoring with a free inside two minutes of the game starting but it was cancelled out with a similar effort from Patrick Curran.

Former Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly had Clare back in front on six minutes, and they extended that lead a minute late when Conor McGrath put over another free for the Banner Men. 

Waterford had a chance of hitting a goal on twelve minutes but Patrick Curran saw his effort deflected for a ’65 and from the resulting stroke the young Dungarvan man saw his effort go just wide. Seconds later however Waterford did cut the Clare lead to one when Colin Dunford split the posts. 

With the game entering the closing stages of the first quarter Waterford went back on level terms when Austin Gleeson sent over a free, but Clare were soon back in front as Conor McGrath put over a brace of points with Peter Duggan putting one over in between McGrath’s efforts.

Patrick Curran put over a free on 22 minutes to leave just two between the sides, but Waterford had to wait another eight minutes before they scored again from a Shane Bennett free and the Ballysaggart man put over another four minutes later to level matters, but Clare would head to the dressing rooms under the old Stand one to the good as Conor McGrath put over another free for his side, the ninth place ball to go between the posts in the opening half.   

Clare began the second half as they ended the first as Conor McGrath out over a free giving his side a two point advantage. Patrick Curran pulled one back for Waterford only for McGrath to give Clare a two point advantage once more. 

Patrick Curran made it a one point game when he put over from play, but Conor McGrath soon doubled Clare’s lead once more and the same player made it a three point game when he put over a free.

Shane Bennett followed up with point for Waterford and the Ballysaggart man followed up with another to leave just one between the sides and he made it three in a row for him to level matters as it began to look as if it was going to be anyone’s game for the taking.

Austin Gleeson put over a massive free for Waterford as the clocked ticked near the hour mark to give Waterford a one point advantage. The side that were the hungrier, the side least thinking of the clash between the two in June was now going to become champions for 2016.

McGrath levelled matters once more from another free, after which Podge Collins playing in a second league final in a week edged his side back in front.

McGrath put over another free for Clare and it was looking as if it was going to be their day but you can never write off any Waterford side.

Jamie Barron made it a one point game with a good score after which the impressive Shane Bennett levelled matters not for the first time in this game.

The impressive Bennett put the holders a point up with time fast running out, but we have seen Clare sides come back from such positions before and they would do it again here as deep in stoppage time Shane McGrath put over a pressure free to send the game to extra time.

Waterford began extra time in fine form as Brian O’Halloran and Thomas Ryan knocked over points and when Shane Bennett put over a free won by Tom Devine it was looking as if it was now going to be Waterford’s day.

But Clare would come back fighting once more as David Reidy, Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath from a placed ball knocked over points before the break in extra time to have the sides turn around locked at eighteen points each.

Clare began the second added ten minute period the better of the two sides as Colm Gavin edged his side one in front before Shane Bennett pointed once more only for Tony Kelly to send Clare back in front once more with six minutes of the game remaining.

Stephen O’Keeffe did well to keep Clare out in the final five minutes of the tie after which Thomas Ryan pointed to level matters at twenty points each.

Colm Galvin and Philip Mahony knocked over points for their respective side to keep the sides inseparable with two minutes remaining. Clare went back in front with a minute to play when Colin Ryan split the posts to the cheers of the Banner supports who were now dreaming of a first league title since 1978 but no game is over till the final whistle and in stoppage time at the end of the game, Waterford won a free inside their own half the field. Who better to bring back to take it that Lismore’s Maurice Shanahan and he made no mistake as he split the posts to send the game to a replay next Sunday at the same venue.

Waterford; Stephen O’Keeffe; Noel Connors, Barry Coughlan, Darragh Fives; Tadhg de Búrca, Shane Fives, Philip Mahony; Austin Gleeson, Jamie Barron; Michael Walsh, Shane Bennett, Kevin Moran; Patrick Curran, Colin Dunford, Jake Dillon. Subs: Tom Devine for Colin Dunford (45), Maurice Shanahan for Jake Dillon (57), Brian O’Halloran for Austin Gleeson (63), Conor Gleeson for Shane Fives (66),  Thomas Ryan for Patrick Curran (67), Colin Dunford for Shane Bennett (87), Pauric Mahony for Michael Walsh (88).

Scorers: Shane Bennett 0-9 (6f), Patrick Curran 0-4 (2f), Austin Gleeson (2f) & Tommy Ryan 0-2 each, Philip Mahony, Jamie Barron, Colin Dunford, Brian O’Halloran & Maurice Shanahan (f) 0-1 each.

Clare: Patrick Kelly; Oisín O’Brien, Pat O’Connor, Cian Dillon; Brendan Bugler, Conor Cleary, David Fitzgerald; David Reidy, Colm Galvin; Aaron Cunningham, Darach Honan, Peter Duggan; Podge Collins, Tony Kelly, Conor McGrath. Subs: Shane O’Donnell for Peter Duggan (45), Cathal O’Connell for Darach Honan (49, Colin Ryan for Aaron Cunningham (54), Aaron Shanagher for Colm Galvin (62), Jack Browne for Conor Cleary (77), Colm Galvin for Podge Collins (80+2), Seadna Morey for Brendan Bugler (84)

Scorers: Conor McGrath 0-13 (10f), Tony Kelly 0-3, Colm Galvin 0-2, Peter Duggan, Podge Collins, David Reidy & Colin Ryan 0-1 each.

REFEREE: Brian Gavin (Offaly)