Gaelic Games

Bobby Duggan drives Clare to fourth Munster Under-21 hurling final in a row

Clare land three late points to deny favourites Waterford

Clare’s Bobby Duggan, who scored 13 points, is put under pressure by Waterford’s Austin Gleeson during their Munster Under-21 hurling semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis. Photograph: Sportsfile
Clare’s Bobby Duggan, who scored 13 points, is put under pressure by Waterford’s Austin Gleeson during their Munster Under-21 hurling semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis. Photograph: Sportsfile
Thu Jul 16 2015 - 01:35

Clare 0-23 Waterford 1-18

Thirteen Bobby Duggan points helped Clare stun hot favourites Waterford at Cusack Park to reach their fourth Munster Under-21 hurling final in a row.

Ian Galvin weighed in with six points from play, but Austin Gleeson’s late 20-metre free was blocked by the Clare defence to clinch the win and the place in final against the winners of tomorrow’s semi-final between Limerick and Tipperary in two weeks’ time

Operating with a two-man inside forward line, Mikey Kearney had licence to roam out around the middle while DJ Foran proved an excellent target man at the edge of the square for Waterford.

And in the early stages they looked like the more experienced team. Despite trailing 0-2 to 0-1 after five minutes thanks to two points from play from Duggan, Waterford hit six of the next eight points to surge three clear by the end of the first quarter. Three of those scores came from Patrick Curran frees, while Austin Gleeson at centre-forward also weighed in with two from play.

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But Duggan, one of five senior panellists for Clare, was in inspired form and he hit all of Clare’s first five points to keep them in touch.

Shane O’Donnell

Much of the Waterford focus at the back centred on Shane O’Donnell and the 2013 All-Ireland final hero hardly had a sniff before the break. The closest he came to a score arrived in the 18th minute when Davy Conroy’s effort rattled the post and the Eire Og man gathered the rebound. But Tadhg De Burca crowded him out immediately and his shot under pressure failed to find the target.

Waterford, who had 10 points to spare against Cork in the last round, frustrated Clare with their tight cover inside, but the points soon rolled from further out the field. Galvin – younger brother of Clare senior Colm – Ryan Taylor and Shane Gleeson all pointed before the interval to leave Waterford leading by 0-11 to 0-10.

Once again after the restart Clare’s intensity, and eagerness to hook and tackle their opponents stood out and that led to the equalising score from Duggan in the 32nd minute.

A great move featuring Eoin Quirke, Kevin Hehir sent Galvin on his way for the lead score three minutes later – the first time they led for half an hour – and wing-back Aidan McGuane made it 0-13 to 0-11 a minute later with his first point.

Waterford weren’t helping themselves with three poor wides to start the half but Austin Gleeson settled them with a long range free after 38 minutes. Clare responded with three more points in a row as Donal Moloney’s side looked like pulling clear.

But this is a quality Waterford outfit, and in the 43rd minute Patrick Curran followed Colin Dunford’s point with a goal for his side to put them back in front once again.

But three on the bounce from Clare – two from Galvin – saw them into the Munster final yet again.

CLARE: K Hogan; S O'Brien, D Fitzgerald, E Quirke (0-1); A McGuane (0-1), C Cleary (capt), B O'Gorman; D Conroy, K Hehir; B Duggan (0-13, seven frees), S Gleeson (0-1), I Galvin (0-6); R Taylor (0-1), S O'Donnell, S Ward. Subs: S Taylor for Gleeson (38 mins), N Deasy for Hehir (58 mins).

WATERFORD: J Henley; C Gleeson, K Bennett, S McNulty; M Harney, T De Burca, T Devine; C Dunford (0-1), R Donnelly; Shane Bennett (0-2, one 65), A Gleeson (0-5, one free, one 65), Stephen Bennett; M Kearney (0-1), DJ Foran (0-1), P Curran (1-7, five frees). Subs: D Lyons for Harney (h-t), C Curran (0-1) for Donnelly (40 mins), S Keating for Foran (46 mins).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).