Devine Inspiration for Waterford in Ennis

National Hurling League Champions Clare are out of this year’s competition after they lost out to Waterford in a repeat of last year’s which needed two attempts before the Division 1B winners came out on top for the second year in a row.

For a lot of this game it looked as if it was going to be the home side that would advance to the knockout stages leaving Waterford to play off in a relegation battle for the second time in three years, but Derek McGrath’s side never say die attitude saw them over the line at the end, thanks in no small part to a goal scored by substitute Tom Devine six minutes from the end of normal time in this game.

In front of 6,640 patrons it was Waterford that got off to a flying start in this game as Brian O’Halloran and Patrick Curran landed early points which Shane Bennett added to on four minutes when after a clever move involving older brother Stephen, he finished to the net to give Waterford a 1-2 to no score lead, which Waterford quickly added to when Austin Gleeson split the Clare uprights.

But as everyone knows you right Clare off at your pearl and they came back into contention after Ian Galvin hit his side’s first score of the game on six minutes.

And while Pauric Mahony was next to score, Clare soon stepped up a number of gears as Podge Collins put over a brace of points, Tony Kelly hit one and Aaron Shanagher also got off the mark before Podge Collins hit a brilliant goal for the home side, giving Stephen O’Keeffe no chance, blasting high into the roof of the Ballygunner Club man’s net after fifteen minutes.

Clare were now on a high and hit further scores through Aaron Shanagher and David McInerney to give their side a 1-7 to 1-4 lead with a quarter of the game played.

Patrick Curran and Austin Gleeson pulled points back for Waterford to leave one between the sides but Clare were soon on top again once more as Jason McCarthy and a hat-trick of scores from Tony Kelly followed to give Clare a 1-11 to 1-6 lead with twenty six minutes showing on the clock.

Brian O’Halloran and Pauric Mahony steadied the ship somewhat with points on twenty eight and thirty minutes.

The Ballygunner man split the posts from another free on thirty three minutes but either side of this score Tony Kelly landed a brace of scores to keep his side four clear.

But they did not score for the remainder of the half and in the time that was left Pauric Mahony put over two more for Waterford to leave the visiting side trailing 1-13 to 1-11 at the break.

Within four minutes of the restart the sides were all square when Pauric Mahony who finished this game with ten points behind his name put over two more frees.

Clare upped their game again once more and came back with points from Tony Kelly, Podge Collins, John Conlon and Cathal McInerney to give their side a 1-17 to 1-13 lead after forty four minutes.

Another brace of Pauric Mahony points followed by the fiftieth minute after which Conlon and Mahony swapped scores to keep two between the sides with nineteen minutes remaining in a game that looked as if it could go either way.

Back came Clare again with points from Jamie Shanahan an McInerney to put their side four up again with less than a quarter of an hour still to play.

Now we would see what this Waterford side were made off. Need Waterford supporters worry?

Tom Devine not long after coming off the bench landed a point, and Shane and Stephen Bennett hit vital scores to leave just one between the sides. The side that showed the greater hunger now would be playing in next weekend’s League Quarter Finals while the loser would be playing Dublin in a relegation play off.

There were many crucial scores in this game, but none were as crucial as Waterford’s second goal, six minutes from the end of normal time.

Tom Devine had his initial effort saved by Andrew Fahy but the Modeligo Club man was in the right to capitalise with the rebound and he made no mistake in putting his side 2-19 to 1-20 in front.

David Fitzgerald and Bobby Duggan pulled points back for Clare to draw level with the game in added time, but Waterford held their nerve the stronger of the two sides and landed late scores from Stephen Bennett and Thomas Ryan to win this game and set up a quarter final clash with Galway.

WATERFORD: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane McNulty, Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives; Stephen Daniels, Tadhg de Burca, Conor Gleeson; Austin Gleeson, Kevin Moran; Shane Bennett; Michael Walsh, Pauric Mahony; Brian O’Halloran, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran. Subs: Tom Devine for Curran (42), Mikey Kearney for A. Gleeson (57), Tommy Ryan for O’Halloran (58), Colin Dunford for Shane Bennett (69), Stephen Roche for Coughlan (70+6, inj).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-10 (8fs), Shane Bennett 1-1, Tom Devine 1-1, Stephen Bennett 0-3, Brian O’Halloran 0-2, Austin Gleeson 0-2, Patrick Curran 0-1, Tommy Ryan 0-1

CLARE: Andrew Fahey; David McInerney, Cian Dillon, Seadna Morey; Jason McCarthy, Conor Cleary, David Fitzgerald; Jamie Shanahan, Tony Kelly; Cathal Malone, Podge Collins, John Conlon; Aron Shanagher, Cathal McInerney, Ian Galvin. Subs: Aaron Cunningham for I. Galvin (25), Patrick Donnellan for McCarthy (65), Colm Galvin for Malone (65), Bobby Duggan for C. McInerney (69), Paul Flanagan for D. McInerney (75, inj)

Scorers: Tony Kelly 0-7 (5fs), Podge Collins 1-3, Aron Shanagher 0-2, John Conlon 0-2, Cathal McInerney 0-2, Ian Galvin 0-1, David McInerney 0-1, Jason McCarthy 0-1, Jamie Shanahan 0-1, David Fitzgerald 0-1, Bobby Duggan 0-1.

REFEREE: John Keenan (Wicklow).