Waterford 4
Clare          0

Clare lost to a stronger Waterford outfit in the opening game in the Inter League Youths Cup at Ozier Park in Waterford on Sunday. Clare started brightly with David McCarthy having a shot just go over the bar from 20 yards. Kieran Hackett had a great chance to put Clare in front but tried a pass which was intercepted and the chance was lost. Waterford started to get a lot of possession in the middle of the field and Colm Treacey made a great tackle to keep them out on 15 minutes. Treacy was having excellent game at the back and made vital blocks in quick succession on 18 minutes to keep the score levels. Sean Dobbins and Dean Ryan were also playing very well at the back. After a good passing move Killian Malone had a shot go narrowly over the bar from the edge of the bhe ox. Waterford should have gone in front on 25 minutes but Mike Fitzpatrick made a brilliant save when Waterford’s Kenny Purcell was through on goal. Purcell had another great chance two minutes later after a comedy of errors at the back but again was denied by Fitzpatrick in the Clare goal. John Kirwan had a well struck shot from a good delivery from McCarthy well saved by the Kevin Burns in the Waterford goal on 30 minutes. Hackett had another great chance to put Clare in front on 35 minutes but his first time shot from a Malone cross went over the bar from inside the box. Gary Keane had a shot for Waterford from the edge of the box go narrowly wide on 37 minutes. The Clare back four and goalkeeper were under enormous pressure but just as it looked like Clare would make it to half time on level terms disaster struck. Waterford attacked down the right wing and when the ball came across the box, a run from midfield by Sean Shanahan was not tracked and his shot from inside the box went in despite the efforts of Fitzpatrick in goals. Waterford were now in the ascendancy and Fitzpatrick was called on again minutes later to make a great save from Purcell. The Clare captain Sean Dobbins had to go off injured at half time and his loss at the back and to the team was to prove detrimental in the second half. Waterford started the second half like they finished the first with Purcell and Gavin Faulknal again going close. They finally increased their lead on 55 minutes. Clare lost possession easily in the middle of the field and quick break and cross from the right was unfortunately turned into his own net by substitute Caoimhin Phillipson. Phillipson had to deal with cross as there was a Waterford player loose behind him but his attempted clearance went into his own net. McCarthy played the second half in central midfield and started to show his real talent throughout the second half. He had a great run and shot go narrowly wide on 60 minutes. On 65 minutes the game was over as a contest. A short kick out by Fitzpatrick and attempted move up the right wing was intercepted and punished by Waterford to make it 3-0. Clare never gave up and McCarthy, Damien Ryan and Colm Horan all had good efforts before the end. On the stroke of full-time Waterford put the icing on a deserved victory with Faulknal getting on the end of a cross from the right to score with a powerful header. Clare have a lot of work to do before next match with Cork but if they have a full panel available could be a match for any team in the Inter League Youths Cup.                 

Clare:
1. Mike Fitzpatrick (Newtown)
2. Sean Dobbins (Lifford)
3. Alan Horan (Moher)
4. Dean Ryan (Lifford)
5. Colm Treacy (Newmarket)
6. Peter Barnes (Newtown)
7. Cillian Malone (Moher)
8. David McCarthy (Lifford)
9. Damien Ryan (Corofin)
10. Kieran Hackett (Newtown)
11. John Kirwan (Moher)
12. Caoimhin Phillipson (Moher) for Dobbins (inj)
13. Lunga Balman (Lifford) for Malone
14. Andy Fitzgerald (Newmarket) for Hackett
15. Jason Whyte (Bridge Utd)

Waterford:
1. Kevin Burns
2. Brian Nolan
3. Thomas Moore
4. Michael Casey
5. Leo Jacques
6. Eddie Barrett
7. Gary Keane
8. Colm O’Shea
9. Gavin Faulknal
10. Kenny Purcell
11. Sean Shanahan
12. Thomas Moore
13. Tony Moore
14. Clive Prendergast
15. Andrew Power
16. Ian Daly