CLARE 2-8 WATERFORD 2-8
Waterford and Clare played out a draw in front of 1,768 spectators at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday evening.
Clare will now have to travel to Dungarvan on Saturday evening next for the replay.
This was a game that the home side dominated for the most part but a strong finish by the visitors ensured that they will have to do it all again.
With three minutes remaining of the 70, Clare held a three -point advantage (2-8 to 2-5) yet a resilient Waterford kept ploughing away and kicked a trio of scores culminating in an injury-time equalising point by Paul Whyte.
Clare had the better of the opening half exchanges and lead by 1-5 to 1-2 at the break.
"In fairness to Waterford, they worked fierce hard and they really played well and we are really delighted to get another chance to redeem ourselves," said Clare manager Colm Collins.
Clare had the best of starts and led 1-1 to no score by the sixth minute. Free-taker David Tubridy opened their account on three minutes and a few minutes later Enda Coughlan first-timed a finish to the net after Shane McGrath's shot was saved by Waterford keeper Stephen Enright. This early pattern set the trend for most of the rest of the game.
Waterford eventually got off the mark with two points from play by corner forward JJ Hutchinson. Clare then forged ahead with scores by McGrath (2) and Martin O Leary before Whyte drilled a low shot to the Clare net in the 32nd minute.
This goal was set up by a movement that involved attacker Michael O'Gorman and centre-back Dean Crowley.
Another Tubridy point, this time from open play, left three between them at the interval.
Clare added to their lead after the break with points by Jamie Malone and team captain Gary Brennan before Paul Whyte and substitute Michael Curry replied for Waterford, to reclaim the three point difference. Then in the 57th minute a great solo run by Waterford mid-fielder Shane Aherne resulted in Liam Ó' Lonáin smashing to the Clare net from the edge of the square.
Tadhg Ó’hUallacháin added a point and now Waterford found themselves in front for the first time in the game.
But it was to be short-lived as David Tubridy replied with a Clare goal at the other end, after being set up by Rory Donnelly and Sean Collins. Gary Brennan made it 2-8 to 2-5 and Clare looked home and dried.
But Waterford had a kick in them and those three late scores by Shane Aherne, twice, and Whyte’s equalising effort earned them a merited draw.
Aherne, one of the Waterford hero's on the day reflected on the game afterwards, by saying, "we dropped eight balls into their goalie's hands and missed a few handy frees as well so we'll just have to wait until the next day." CLARE: J Hayes, D Ryan, K Harnett, M McMahon, S Hickey, G Kelly, C Russell, G Brennan (0-1), S McGrath (0-2), J Malone (0-1), E Coughlan (1-0), S Collins, P Collins, D Tubridy (1-3,0-1 free), M O'Leary (0-1, free). Subs: S Brennan for Kelly B/C (31 mins), R Donnelly for O'Leary (51), E Cleary for Malone (63 mins), P McMahon for P Collins B/C (70 ). WATERFORD: S Enright, S Briggs, Maurice O'Gorman, T O'Gorman, C Phelan, D Crowley, O Keevers, P Whyte (1-2), T Prendergast T Ó'hUallacháin (0-1), L Ó Lonáin (1-0) , Michael O'Gorman, B Wall, S Aherne (0-2, 0-1 free), JJ Hutchinson (0-2). Subs: M Curry (0-1) for Hutchinson (42 mins), D Allen for Wall (58 mins), W Hutchinson for Briggs B/C (50 mins), D Grey for Michael O'Gorman (56 mins), D Hallinan for Keevers (60 mins), L Ó'Corraoin for Phelan (66 mins). Referee: C Lane (Cork)
