It had to take a last gasp Mark Rodgers '65 for Clare to finally see off an obstinate Waterford following another rollercoaster Munster Senior Championship tie in front of 19,893 in Cusack Park Ennis.
Being a must-win tie for both, four timely goals repeatedly appeared to set the home side up for a comfortable victory, only to be dragged back each time by a never-say-die Waterford.
Indeed, despite finding themselves trailing by eight points at one stage, remarkably Davy Fitzgerald’s side managed to regain full parity on four occasions in the final quarter including a dramatic injury-time penalty for substitute Shane Bennett after fellow replacement Patrick Fitzgerald was tripped.
A share of the spoils now seemed the most likely ending to what was a madcap end-to-end battle, only for the Banner to earn a contentious ’65 at the death which the cool Rodgers slotted over to the relieving sound of the final whistle.
FT: Clare 4-21 Waterford 2-26
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2024
Clare win it as a contested 65 is awarded on the final play, Mark Rodgers converting to the edge Brian Lohan's side home by a point
📺 Watch it here - https://t.co/WMGbng7nJR
📱 Or follow it here - https://t.co/mSprCDje76 pic.twitter.com/POari0CFDF
In truth, Clare were only behind once and that in the first six minutes as Dessie Hutchinson scored at the second attempt in the second minute.
The home side began to find their feet and went in front for the first time in the seventh minute when a Mark Rodgers shot was stopped by Kieran Bennett, only to convert the rebound.
Rodgers turned provider for the breakthrough goal at the start of the second quarter as he picked out the unmarked Darragh Lohan to fire to the net at 1-8 to 0-6.
A loose pass from Waterford in midfield and suddenly Clare are through on goal. Darragh Lohan makes no mistake and his side lead 1-08 to 0-06.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2024
📺 Watch it here - https://t.co/WMGbng7nJR
📱 Or follow it here - https://t.co/mSprCDje76 pic.twitter.com/fWRougZJtb
Clare might have doubled their tally three minutes later only for David Fitzgerald’s powerful effort by be excellently parried by goalkeeper Shaun O’Brien. Fitzgerald did make amends in the 26th minute when finishing Cian Galvin’s delivery past O’Brien to boost his side to a 2-10 to 0-08 cushion.
Sloppy defending from Waterford sees David Fitzgerald run clear through on goal without a challenge and he finishes to the back of the net. Clare are well in charge.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2024
📺 Watch it here - https://t.co/WMGbng7nJR
📱 Or follow it here - https://t.co/mSprCDje76 pic.twitter.com/bsUWtDeLwO
Mark Rodgers had another effort saved but Waterford remained in touch, mainly through a trio of Dessie Hutchinson frees to lower the damage to five by the break at 2-13 to 0-14.
The same pattern was maintained on the resumption as Waterford’s comeback efforts were wiped out by a superb meandering run from Mark Rodgers to flick Clare’s third goal to the net in the 40th minute at 3-13 to 0-16.
The Deise simply refused to yield though as three unanswered points, two from Kevin Mahony lessened the deficit to just three by the 49th minute before finally pulling level for the first time at the end of the third quarter.
Clare should have goaled themselves in the 50th minute when ever-impressive targetman Shane O’Donnell passed inside to David Fitzgerald who just batted over the crossbar. It would be a costly miss as from the puck-out, Stephen Bennett raced down the left wing and shrugged off his marker before cutting inside and finishing emphatically to the net at 3-14 to 1-19.
A Dessie Hutchinson free levelled matters while Shane Barrett did likewise at the turn for home after Aidan McCarthy had nudged the hosts in front once more.
The game is swinging back and forward in Cusack Park as Tony Kelly manages to squeeze the sliotar over the line to put Clare back in charge.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2024
📺 Watch it here - https://t.co/WMGbng7nJR
📱 Or follow it here - https://t.co/mSprCDje76 pic.twitter.com/eVlvjZc0Fn
Enter substitute Tony Kelly who collected a Cathal Malone pass in the left corner to move inside and see his powerful shot somehow tickle over the line at 4-16 to 1-21 in the 58th minute.
Game over now surely? Not even close as Waterford’s bench headed by Padraig Fitzgerald inched their way back into contention to reel in the home side once more by the 65th minute.
That was replicated in injury-time when successive points from Ian Galvin (2) and Peter Duggan were dramatically cancelled by Shane Bennett’s 73rd minute penalty.
Late drama as Shane Bennett fires home an injury time penalty to level it again
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2024
📺 Watch it here - https://t.co/WMGbng7nJR
📱 Or follow it here - https://t.co/mSprCDje76 pic.twitter.com/ObkOJGFaiS
Crucially Clare never fell behind at any stage though and their composure coughed up one final opportunity for Rodgers to arrow over a ’65 with the last puck of a truly absorbing tie to edge matters.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan (0-01), John Conlon, Cian Galvin; Darragh Lohan (1-00), Cathal Malone (0-01); David Fitzgerald (1-04), David Reidy (0-01), Peter Duggan (0-01); Aidan McCarthy (0-05, 0-04f), Mark Rodgers (1-04, 0-01’65), Shane O’Donnell (0-02)
Subs: Tony Kelly (1-00) for Reidy (48), Seadna Morey for Lohan (56), Conor Leen for Hayes (59), Ian Galvin (0-02) for McCarthy (63)
Waterford: Shaun O’Brien; Iarlaith Daly, Kieran Bennett (0-01), Ian Kenny (0-01); Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg de Burca (0-02, 0-01f), Calum Lyons (0-01); Darragh Lyons, Patrick Curran; Stephen Bennett (1-02), Jack Prendergast (0-02), Jamie Barron (0-01); Kevin Mahony (0-04), Michael Kiely, Dessie Hutchinson (0-06, 0-05f)
Subs: Jack Fagan (0-01) for Lyons (16), Shane Bennett (1-02, 1-00 Pen) for Curran (31, inj), Conor Ryan for K. Bennett (57), Patrick Fitzgerald (0-01) for Kiely (59), Padraig Fitzgerald (0-02) for Stephen Bennett (64), Peter Hogan for Barron (66)
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
