John Mullane is predicting a long season ahead for both Clare and Waterford hurlers and can see the Munster rivals clashing again in September for ultimate honours.
In a game that struggled to match pre-match expectations for large parts of the 70 minutes, the conclusion of Sunday's Allianz Division 1 decider had the 19,498 spectators at Semple Stadium on the edge of their seats as the two sides finished level at 0-22 apiece.
Clare’s Conor McGrath, who finished with a tally of 0-13, took the game to extra-time and Davy Fitzgerald looked set to add more silverware to his managerial reign before substitute Maurice Shanahan had the final say with a long-range free worthy of taking the contest to a replay.
With the Munster championship clash less than five weeks away, both sides will be more than familiar with each other and former Waterford hurler Mullane says it is the beginnings of a new rivalry.
Enthralling Cork and Waterford contests captured the imagination during Mullane’s playing days and the five-time All Star is expecting similar fireworks in this fixture over the coming seasons.
“These two teams are going to get to know each other,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“This is the start of a new rivalry between Waterford and Clare. I think these teams are going all the way to September.
“It could be the start of a four-game saga.”
Shanahan displayed nerves of steel to to ensure another day out for both sets of supporters and Anthony Daly paid tribute to Lismore man after struggling to make an impression after his introduction off the bench.
Shane Bennett remained as free-taker after Shanahan was introduced on 57 minutes, and the rangy forward was handed his first opportunity with the final play of the game with Bennett departed.
“He wasn’t playing well,” Daly said. “Patrick O’Connor had beaten him out to a couple of balls that had led to a Clare point and a Clare chance that was missed.
“It showed some bottle for him to go back there and hit the free from that distance as clean as a whistle because he had gone way back further before that and didn’t even rise the ball properly.
“It was a great moment afterwards and perhaps sums up Davy’s time in Waterford as the first thing I saw afterwards was Maurice and Davy having a huge bear hug. There’s mutual respect there.
"It wasn’t great spectacle hurling wise, but we got tremendous excitement in extra-time."
Fellow RTÉ hurling analyst Tomás Mulcahy said the return of Shanahan after recent injury problems is a huge fillip for Waterford manager Derek McGrath.
“Maurice was having a bit of a stinker by his own standards.
“That will be a big plus for Derek McGrath next week that he’s back on the pitch and more game time.
“To do what he did, was just incredible. He was very positive and it was fantastic to see.”
