Clare demolish Waterford to top Munster SHC group

Clare maintained their momentum ahead of a Munster SHC final rematch with Limerick after easing to a comprehensive final round victory over Waterford in Cusack Park Ennis.

In front of 16,144, the Banner persevered their unbeaten start to the championship when leading from start to finish in a dominant display.

With their place in the decider secured in advance, six changes to personnel - including the absence of talisman Tony Kelly - didn't hinder a buoyant Banner who, in targetman Peter Duggan, puck-out magnet Shane O’Donnell and the elusive David Fitzgerald, accounted for 2-16 between them.

Unselfish play from Ian Galvin to set up David Reidy for Clare's opening goal - Live updates on https://t.co/YDJ3X0w72I Watch live on @RTEOne and @RTEplayer. Highlights on #sundaygame at 9.30pm #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/6edCbtGejQ

On the flip side, despite craving a victory to remain in the championship, a below-par Waterford never reached the heights of their Allianz League winning form and would remarkably find themselves trailing by 20 points at one stage of the second half.

A strong breeze favoured the home side in the opening period as they hit the ground running with eight of the first nine points in as many minutes.

Despite losing both Tadhg de Búrca and Jamie Barron to injury early on, Waterford did finally settle with a brace of Patrick Curran frees lessening the damage to five by the end of the opening quarter.

However, a superbly worked move that was finished to the net by the returning David Reidy injected new life in Clare with an injury-time second from David Fitzgerald powering the hosts to a 2-16 to 0-9 interval cushion.

Things would get even bleaker for the Déise on the restart when Fitzgerald raided for his second goal in