Electric Déise under-20s come back to collar Clare
Waterford Under 20 football team celebrate victory over Clare in the Munster Football Championship.
The Waterford under-20 footballers fought back from seven points behind to claim a famous victory in Clare on Thursday night, as Paddy McCarthy’s 65th-minute free sealed the most memorable of comebacks.
Dáire Culligan’s 38th-minute goal moved the hosts seven in front, but Waterford roared back with an unanswered 2-3 before sealing victory in the dying embers.
The Déise went two points behind early on, but they could well have had two goals in the same period.
With no scores on the board, David Nyhan forced his way in behind on 2 minutes but dragged his effort narrowly right and wide, before the Banner worked the ball downfield and Sean Fennell clipped over the opener from a tight angle.
Nyhan then turned provider as he handpassed to Ben Qualter and the An Rinn man drove at goal, but his fierce effort was well saved to his right by Harry O’Gorman on 4 minutes.
Colm Breen made it 0-2 to no score, before a Joe Brennan free got Waterford off the mark on 7 minutes. While Waterford were wasteful in front of goal, Clare weren’t - and they struck moments later.
A great move saw Darragh Townsend and Ruben Fallon combine, and Fallon played in Donncha O’Dwyer who raced through confidently to slot to the bottom left corner and establish a four-point cushion.
Fallon and O’Dwyer combined again and the latter pointed with ease, before a Paddy McCarthy free was quickly cancelled out by Breen’s second score of the evening.
A confident Clare side were motoring now, and though they needed no further motivation, goalkeeper Harry O’Gorman provided even more with a superbly taken two-point free to stretch the gap to seven.
The Déise’s third goal chance arrived on 21 minutes as McCarthy played in Qualter, but his strike was too high and he had to settle for a point. McCarthy then pointed another free as Callum Royle was dragged down, though the hosts again found answers - Fennell turning and unleashing a clean strike between the uprights to raise another orange flag.
A Callum Royle drive yielded another score for Waterford, and they trailed 1-8 to 0-5 at the break.
A beauty from Joe Brennan’s left boot saw Waterford start the second half positively, and an Aaron Curran effort yielded their third point without reply.
That revival was seemingly short lived however, as Clare stuck for a crucial second goal on 37 minutes - a ball from Evan Cahill landed into the path of Daire Culligan, and the full-forward spun his marker before crashing to the roof of the net to make it 2-8 to 0-7.
It would’ve been fair to presume that was potentially goodnight Waterford, but this side lie down for no-one. Their response was simply emphatic, as they kicked 2-3 in just six minutes.
From the Clare goal, Waterford marauded upfield and got in behind seconds before Nyhan applied a neat finish to the net and it was very much game on. Aaron Curran was next to turn the screw, before the Déise drew level for the first occasion on 40 minutes.
A patient move saw McCarthy play a deft pass into Brennan, and the Tramore man unleashed a superb left-footed strike to the top right corner. The travelling supporters were in fine voice as the scoreboard read 2-8 apiece.
A Nyhan effort then narrowly crept over O’Gorman’s crossbar as Waterford hit the front for the first time, before a free from Brennan afforded them some more breathing room.
Breathing room was scarce in this breathless cauldron though, as Clare kicked four on the spin to down talk of a comeback. Darragh Townsend and O’Dwyer combined to reduce the deficit to one, before a great score from captain Culligan drew the sides level once more.
Culligan repeated the trick on 49 minutes, before an O’Gorman free set things up for a pulsating closing final ten minutes. A great score from the electric Nyhan kept Waterford on the heels of the hosts, before substitute Simon Culligan restored the two-point lead.
That 53rd-minute effort was to be Clare’s last score as Waterford battled valiantly for every ball and finished the stronger. A McCarthy free from close range had things in the melting pot, but heads were in hands moments later as the Brickeys man kicked a two-point attempt agonisingly wide.
In added time, the Déise threw the kitchen sink and struck oil, as Callum Royle was dragged down and up stepped the coolest of customers McCarthy to make it 2-13 apiece approaching the third extra minute.
Referee James Regan allowed time for one more play and a frantic Déise break again drew a foul. McCarthy chipped over the requisite dead ball, and the rest is history.
A sixth underage Munster football victory of 2026 on what has been a remarkable resurgence from Waterford. A win against Cork on Wednesday would secure a place in the provincial decider for the first time since 2006.
Daire Culligan and Donncha O’Dwyer (1-2 each); Sean Fennell (0-3; 1tp); Harry O’Gorman (0-3; 1tpf; 1 ‘45); Colm Breen (0-2); Simon Culligan (0-1)
Joe Brennan (1-3; 0-2f); Paddy McCarthy (0-5; 0-5f); David Nyhan (1-2); Aaron Curran (0-2); Ben Qualter and Callum Royle (0-1 each)
Harry O’Gorman; Aidan Weaver, Steven Murphy, Louie Griffin; Daniel Brody, Diarmuid Boyle, Michael Kelly; Evan Cahill, Sean Fennell; Darragh Townsend, Colm Breen, Donncha O’Dwyer; Diarmuid McMahon, Daire Culligan, Ruben Fallon.
Conor Hill for Steven Murphy (38); Simon Culligan for Colm Breen (49); Seanan Kirby for Daniel Brody (53)
Conor Drohan; Niall Fahey, Ben Boland, Andrew Ryan; David Nyhan, Fergal O’Brien, Darragh Jacob; Diarmuid Mackle, Daithí Colleran; Aaron Curran, Ben Qualter, Ciarán Power; Joe Brennan, Paddy McCarthy, Callum Royle.
Ciarán Cotter for Darragh Jacob (53); Justin Foley for Ciarán Power (55)
James Regan (Cork)
