Clare top table with win over Waterford

Clare spoiled the Walsh Park homecoming for Waterford in a spirited win in Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League this afternoon.

It was a close game throughout, with Waterford edging the first half in terms of performance, but the game still remained level at the break.

The only goal came with just 11 minutes played courtesy of Sean Walsh. The visitors weren’t happy with Walsh looking to have taken a huge number of steps in the build-up, but Liam Gordon was happy with it and the green flag was raised.

A decent first-half showing from Waterford’s star forward Stephen Bennett with four pointed frees was brought cruelly to an end in the second half when he limped off injured to be replaced by his brother.

It was then left to Aidan McCarthy to steal the headlines with a personal tally of eight points over the course of the afternoon, navigating a tricky path to a vital away win by the narrowest of margins.

An explosive start to the game concluded with Walsh and McCarthy exchanging scores inside opening minute of the game before the evergreen Bennett got his free-scoring under way for the afternoon with a simple tap over the bar.

Waterford from the off caused Clare huge problems in around the goal with their direct running, with Neil Montgomery and Michael Kiely in particular posing a big threat.

Ian Galvin was the man to keep Clare in touch early on with two fine individual scores either side of two further Bennett frees.

Waterford, who had started like a train in attack, got the first goal of the game on 11 minutes. Walsh strolled past Conor Cleary with ease on the right hand side of the box and buried the sliothar into back of net despite seeming to take far too many steps.

Clare’s response was superb and three points in a row