That’s all from me, and that’s all from JOE’s trackers this weekend. For more live craic, make sure to log back on from Friday, when we’ll have South Africa v Mexico and Uruguay v Thierry Henry’s Big Fat Hand on the opening day of the World Cup finals. Then, on Saturday, some poor unfortunate (me, probably) will be on duty from 8.30am for Ireland v New Zealand in the rugby, right through to England v The Yanks at 7.30pm.
Over and out.
Waterford win without playing great. Maybe leaving the Prendergasts out of the team was the kick in the arse they needed – they were brilliant after half-time.
Clare had ten of last year’s under-21 team on by the end of the game, according to Cyril Farrell. There’s plenty of positives there.
Game over. Waterford come through as expected Clare will take heart from a very promising performance.
The ball drops for one of the Clare subs – Cormac O’Donovan, maybe – but he pulls it across the face of the goal and wide.
Seamus Prendergast extends the lead to four. I make it 0-6 in the second half from Waterford subs (two Prendergasts and Ken McGrath), and that’s been the winning of it for Waterford.
We’re into added time. Two minutes of it.
What a point by Ken McGrath. Over the bar from 80 yards and he slams his stick into the turf. Celebrations, Waterford-style.
Eoin Kelly arrows a free over from straight in front of the posts after Conor Cooney picks off the ground.
A couple of cracking blocks on John Conlon by Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh and Richie Foley. Clare giving it everything.
Five minutes to go and Clare have a 65. Chance of a leveller …
… but Nicky O’Connell’s connection is poor and the sliotar skids wide.
About three minutes after Michael Duignan suggested that Ken McGrath’s career is “nearly over. He has a very serious knee injury”, who should appear on the field? Ken McGrath, of course.
And now he’s back on his feet. Gingerly, though.
Tony Browne is decked by Cormac O’Donoghue. He’s made it as far as his arse.
Three for Declan Prendergast. Picked up a loose clearance 50 yards out on the sideline and nonchalantly (or as nonchalantly as a s six-foot-three lad from Waterford could ever manage) strokes it over the bar.
End of the day for Big Dan. Didn’t go his way today.
Best point of the game. David Barrett, another Clare sub, catches a long clearance, turns his man and points it on the run AND under pressure. These Clare subs have looked good.
Anything bro can do. Seamus Prendergast chips the Deise in front again.
Eoin Kelly hasn’t been sighted for the last ten minutes but he’s just scored one from half-way. Level again.
Goal chance for Clare! Darach Honan slams it over the bar but he had a goal in his sights.
The ref is summoned by the umpires and Liam Lawlor, the Waterford full back, gets a yellow. For something.
Tony Browne clears one up the field. He must be 50 at this stage. Going grey but evergreen.
Sub Cormac O’Donovan points for Clare from the endline on the sideline. Almost. It was a tight angle.
They’re raving about this one on RTE. “It’s a brilliant contest,” says Ger Canning. It’s a contest, Ger. It’s a fair bit down on Cork-Tipp last week.
Molumphy puts Waterford in front for the first time since the first few minutes.
Another one from Declan Prendergast. He was brought on at half-time at wing back and is turning the game Waterford’s way.
Fine score from Jonathan Clancy puts Clare back in front. They’re not lying down, these Banner boys.
Mullane skins Conor Cooney and fires the equaliser over from the sideline. Brilliant score. Waterford looking good at this stage.
Big Dan is beginning to threaten. Could have had a goal, could have had a point, got neither.
And with that it’s down to one. Declan Prendergast drops one over from a distance.
It’s the Shanahan show at the other end. Dan to Maurice and the younger brother points it. Two in it again.
No score but brilliant by Honan. High catch, lost the hurley but was still able to bend and pick up the stick. He’s one to watch this guy – got 1-2 already today.
Darach Honan is unorthodox. All arms and legs like an argumentative octopus. Still, well able to put it over the bar. Clare lead by three again.
Stephen Molumphy chips another wedge out of Clare’s lead. Two in it now – what are Clare made of? We’ll see.
We’re back on. And Kevin Moran, who rounded off the scoring in the first half, adds the first of the second to close the gap to three.
“They’re four up but they should be nine or ten up.” Cyril again. Loughnane is questioning the tactics of Davy Fitz. And with that…
“Big Dan has been very quiet. He hasn’t got a touch,” says Cyril. Spot on, too.
Ger Loughnane, Cyril Farrell and Donal O’Grady are like three wise men in the studio. Who’s the wisest, though? My money’s on O’Grady. Never bet against a Corkman.
Kevin Moran adds another just before half-time. Good finish to the half for Waterford. You’d fancy them to do it in the second half but Clare have been good for a side so inexperienced.
A reckless swipe by Honan on John Mullane. Ref Brian Gavin flashes yellow but fair play to Mullane – he could have stayed down there but he bounced straight up to his feet.
A more difficult free for Eoin Kelly but he raises the white flag this time. For a point, that is, not for surrender.
And Sean Collins adds a quickfire point. Six in it, suddenly, and Clare are in control again. Deservedly so, too. The Deise have been dire.
GOAL CLARE!
Darach Honan emerged from a mass of bodies with space to run into and Clinton Hennessy stands motionless as the sliotar slams into the top corner.
You can depend on Mullane for one amazing score every game. Hooked one over his shoulder with his back to goal and Waterford are within two.
Another missed free, this time at the other end from Clare’s Colin Ryan.
Maurice Shanahan, younger brother of the Dan, finds himself in the clear momentarily. Those of you who backed JOE’s double this morning were shouting “Goal!”
He took his point, the chicken.
Kelly off target with another free. Poor stuff from him.
With 27 minutes gone, we have the first Mullane roar. Good work from Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh. He’s solid, like.
Jonathan Clancy pushes Clare four ahead again. The half forward line is well on top.
Mullane tries to find big Dan with a through-ball. I was at the Tall Ships festival one year. Saw vessels turning quicker than Dan did there. Keeper Donal Touhy cleared for Clare.
Kelly nabs one from play to bring it back to three. Still awake out there?
Darach Honan turns and shoots over for Clare. Kelly with a free for the Deise to pull one back.
This Nicky O’Connell lad isn’t half bad. A free from about 80 metres sails over and he adds another from play. Clare lead by four.
Maybe there was a reason for Jamie Nagle’s sluggishness. He’s down receiving treatment. Sore leg or sore pride, not sure which.
That’s rare beast: a wide from an Eoin Kelly free.
Sean Collins, one of seven championship debutants for Clare, with his second point of the game. Jamie Nagle might have cleared some ball early but he’s all at sea now. Collins left him for dead there.
Nicky O’Connell is given the freedom of Tipperary from the middle of the field and strokes Clare’s fourth point from 60 yards.
Dan was sniffing around the goals for Waterford but Brendan Bugler gets back to clear. Bugler, eh? Wonder can he hold a tune?
Actually, the expanse of empty seats behind Eoin Kelly suggests that the crowd isn’t great. Kelly cracks a free over. Level again.
Clare have a free and Colin Ryan goes for goal. “He’s going to go for this one,” said Michael Duignan in the RTE commentary box. “No he’s not,” said Ger Canning. Duignan’s right, but Clinton Hennessy makes a comfy save.
And another. John Conlon from distance. That’s a point apiece for the Clare half forwards.
Two in a minute for Clare to level it up. Sean Collins hit the first and Jonathan Clancy the second. They’re back in it.
Strange to see John Mullane sporting a helmet. We’re used to seeing his slaphead sprinting about the place.
Jamie Nagle has cleared a good bit of ball for Waterford so far. Seems to be a good enough crowd at Semple Stadium. Nothing else on, I suppose.
Waterford are on top early on. Stephen Molumphy and John Mullane with a point from either wing.
We’re under way in Semple Stadium, where the rain has been coming down hard. Waterford are red hot favourites but could the conditions be a great leveller?
1455:
Teams:
Clare: D Touhy; P Vaughan, C Dillon, C Cooney; B Bugler, D McMahon, P Donnellan; B O’Connell, N O’Connell; S Collins, J Conlon, J Clancy; F Lynch, D Honan, C Ryan.
Waterford: C Hennessy; E Murphy, L Lawlor, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, J Nagle; S O’Sullivan, R Foley; D Shanahan, K Moran, S Molumphy; J Mullane, E Kelly, M Shanahan.
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly).
