Waterford toppled Clare in Pairc Ui Chaoimh this evening after a hard-fought Munster derby.
The opening stanza showed everyone what Dessie Hutchinson can do in an intercounty jersey striking with two back-to-back goals in the opening four minutes. No longer just a player who can produce with Ballygunner, but a potent forward who can strike on the biggest stage. Ten goals for Ballygunner across '19 and '20, and now his first and second in the Blue and White arrive before the opposing team could gather their thoughts.
The Waterford manager Liam Cahill spoke ahead of the game of the need for goals from his chosen 15 and they produced with aplomb.
The threat posed by Clare's Tony Kelly was muted due to an injury in the warm-up which saw the Banner's talisman curtailed in his output, but it didn't stop him drifting between half-forward, full-forward, and midfield. Callum Lyons was handed the unenviable task of chasing Kelly around the park and the Ballyduff Lower man willingly obliged.
By the first half water break, the Deise held a 2-5 to 0-6 lead. The side have struggled to deal with the water break so far in the Championship and the first half was no different with Clare's Aron Shanagher striking in a similar fashion to Hutchinson - sticking two past Stephen O' Keefe in as many minutes.
For the second week on the hop, the change in momentum post water break goes to the Waterford's opponents.
The remaining time in the half spent with both teams going tit for tat on the scoring but it was the Championship new guns who secured the points difference that Liam Cahill needed as Jack Fagan popped up and hit the back of the net to put some daylight between the sides.
Half time score - Waterford 3-10 Clare 2-10
Image credit Noel Browne
Waterford struck early on the return to play, with Fagan again the man to make the difference. A bursting run up the middle of the field earned his side a free - dutiffully knocked over by Stephen Bennett.
The Deise started to stretch their legs in the early going and beside Clare's purple patch of play - the Bannerman were unable to convert their efforts, earning their eighth wide of the game. With five points the difference on 45 minutes, those wides would come back to bite them.
Like previous performances, Waterford approached the second-half water break in the ascendancy - but unlike previous outings, they would come out the other side of the break staying on the up-and-up.
Between the time the water bottles were stoppered and the final whistle being blown in an empty Pairc Ui Chaoimh - Waterford had sealed up nine more points to Clare's goal and four with a massive save from Stephen O' Keefe thrown in for good measure.
The referee puts his whistle to his lips, the stands stay quiet but houses from Ballygunner to Lismore and Clonea Power erupt.
Full-Time Score from Cork - Waterford 3-27 Clare 3-18
Speaking at Full time, Deise B0ss Liam Cahill said he would be very worried about the goals that his side conceded
He went on to say that he was happy to see his players take their chances when they were on offer
and the ever focussed former All-Star did say it was good to get the victory
For the post-game show on WLR Nigel was joined by Shane Ahern, Tony Considine and Dan Shanahan to break down what they'd seen in Cork and to look ahead at the challenge posed by Kilkenny next weekend
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2AXilJILzXpVRQsarbesZA?si=z0_1FXS0Tjq7JqkCBI85Bg
https://www.spreaker.com/user/11231943/waterford-v-clare-all-ireland-quarter-fi
