Michael Ryan offered no excuses as to how Waterford failed to build on an encouraging start in Sunday’s Crystal Cup semi final. “It was a very disappointing performance no doubt about it. We were five or six points up and hurling reasonably well and for some reason we fell out of the game.” In reality Clare’s five point winning margin could easily have been double such was their dominance although Davy Fitzgerald (who watched proceedings from the stand) argued that Waterford didn’t show their true colours on the day.
After 20 minutes the home crowd could find little to complain about. Shane Walsh had won six balls in a row out in front of Cian Dillon and Waterford profited handsomely as a result. Two points from the Fourmilewater man was followed by Seamus Prendergast’s goal after Walsh provided the killer pass. With Jamie Nagle, Eoin McGrath, Martin O’Neill along with Walsh performing well, a six point lead was established. From there however the performance levels dropped throughout the field. Clare began to dominate the midfield sector and pick off some quick fire points but Daire Keane’s goal was the spark they drew confidence from. Patrick Donnellan exerted a big influence at centre field and the Clare half back line also raised their game with Patrick O’Connor the pick of the lot. After fifteen barren minutes, in which the Banner struck 1-6 without reply, Martin O’Neill’s free left only two between the sides at the half time whistle.
The lethargy continued after the break as Clare outscored their hosts by 1-8 to 0-2 for the first thirty minutes of the half. Aaron Cunningham and Colm Galvin, two of last year’s minor crop, came to the fore with the more experienced Colin Ryan supplying another reliable source of scores. Their movement was much crisper in attack and this along with their superior fitness levels saw them move through the gears in the second half towards an inevitable victory. Three late goals papered over the cracks in many ways but Martin O’Neill’s eagerness and industry up front offered cause for optimism. Seamus Prendergast as always couldn’t be faulted in terms of effort and also drilled home a late consolation.
Apart from O’Neill and Prendergast, the attack lacked direction especially when Shane Walsh appeared to suffer a knock mid way through the first half. A telling statistic is that Waterford failed to score from play for all of 54 minutes as seven of their nine point total came from frees. The tactic of a two man full forward line was also surprising in the second half and Clare negated it by placing Patrick Donnellan to sweep in front of his full back line. Declan Prendergast was probably the best of a back line that had to contain a lively attack. Maurice Shanahan won plenty of possession but failed to utilise the best option available at times and will also be disappointed with his shooting. Alongside him in the half forward line, Michael Walsh also drifted in and out of the game. Much to ponder all told but this early eye opener should concentrate minds ahead of the league. The sodden state of the Walsh Park pitch, that cut up in all areas and resulted in many scrums for possession, also didn’t suit many of the Waterford players. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the afternoon was that too many failed to grasp the opportunity to impress the management team in a competitive game such as this.
Davy Fitzgerald meanwhile can take encouragement from the pool of young talent that appear determined to deliver on the senior stage. After a shaky opening, ten different players found the target in the final reckoning which makes Clare a serious proposition with June 17 in mind.
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