Munster MHF - Clare Waterford 1-11A SUPER goal by David O'Halloran in the 38th minute sent Clare on their way to a shock win over the holders and favourites Waterford at Semple Stadium yesterday. Clare had lost to Waterford in the opening round of the competition but they powered away from their rivals in the closing quarter for a comfortable win.

Backed by the the breeze, Clare looked the better side in the first half but Waterford, thanks to the accuracy of Padraic Mahoney, stayed in touch and two pointed frees from the latter left the sides level at 0-6 each at the break.

Waterford surged ahead with three early second-half points but then Clare got moving. O’Halloran finished a three-man move for a well-worked goal.

Then he added a point and Niall Arthur pointed two frees push Clare four clear.

Waterford hit back with a great Eamon Murphy goal in the 44th minute but Clare shot six unanswered points to claim their first title in this grade in 23 years.

O’Halloran, Daire Keane and Kevin Lynch were Clare’s key performers. Waterford ran out of steam in the second half but Eamon Murphy, Luke Egan, Eoin Madigan, Darragh Fives and Mahoney tried valiantly.

CLARE:R Taaffe; H Vaughan, P Flanagan, S Morey; E Boyce, K Lynch, S O'Halloran; C Galvin, T Kelly (0-2); C Malone, P Collins, J Shanahan (0-1); D O'Halloran (1-3), N Arthur (0-6), D Keane (0-4); Subs:A Mulready for Malone; C O'Connell for Collins.;

WATERFORD:D Duggan; J Barron, S O'Keeffe, L Egan; R Barry, D Fives, E Madigan; P Prendergast (0-1), G O Brien; P Mahoney (0-4), E Murphy (1-2), J Dillon (0-1); S Roche (0-1), C Heffernan (0-1), M O'Neill; Subs:C Curran for O'Neill;C Chester for Roche; T Curran (0-1) for Heffernan; S Lawless for Prendergast.

Referee:D Copps, Cork.