Having been level at the break 0-07 apiece, Clare broke away from Waterford in the final ten minutes as late scores from replacements Daithi O'Connell and Tomas Holland rounded out a 1-16 to 1-14 win to book Clare's place in the top six at Cusack Park. Waterford were gunning for a win that would have guaranteed their passage to next month's play-offs but Clare had totted up a 0-05 to 0-01 lead inside the first 12 minutes.
Although Paul Flynn pointed a free for the visitors after a minute-and-forty seconds, shots from Alan Markham (0-02), Niall Gilligan, Tony Griffin and a 30-metre effort from Seanie McMahon gave Clare the lead. Andy Maloney (0-02), Dan Shanahan, Michael Walsh and Flynn (two frees) hit quick replies for Waterford between 25 and 34 minutes with substitute Andrew Quinn hitting the last point of the half from a free, to level it.
Daithi O'Connell opened with his first point directly after the restart to put Clare in front before Gilligan (free) and David Forde stretched them into a three-point lead. Gilligan calmly found the Waterford net three minutes later with a right-handed shot as Clare upped the tempo and took their tally to 1-10.
Flynn replied almost immediately with a free from 40 metres and the Ballygunner forward smashed home a close range scramble in the 46th minute to draw the Deise to within two points of their hosts. It was tit for tat thereafter as the sides were to be level four times throughout the game.
After 26 minutes of the second half John Mullane levelled with his second point of the afternoon and two more from Andy Maloney kept Waterford in the hunt at 1-13 to 1-12 down. In the 64th minute Gilligan claimed his sixth free to put two points between the sides and despite the concession of two further scores to Waterford, Gilligan, O'Connell and a last 40-metre effort from Holland saw Clare claim their fourth win from five.
Waterford also advance in third due to a superior points difference over defending champions Kilkenny, who beat Dublin by 1-15 to 0-09 at Nowlan Park.
Filed by Shane Murray
