Power puts on a show as Déise minors reach Munster final
Waaterford minor hurling Manager James O’Connor with Coach Tommy Ryan. Photos: Sean Byrne
Fraher Field was rocking and roaring in the last quarter as the Waterford minor hurlers finished like a train to set up a Munster final with Cork on May 16.
The sides were level nine times before Cormac Spain's long range free bounced into the back of the Clare net five minutes from the end. Late points from Spain and substitutes Caoilinn Reville and Pierce Quann raised the volume levels even higher. 1-6 without reply sent the Déise through to their first provincial decider since 2021. "That last fifteen minutes was heroic stuff," manager James O'Connor stated.
Midfielder Jack Power put on an exhibition of high fielding that ignited the home crowd. The Ballygunner man made eight clean catches. "Jack would have that in his bag of tricks! He is a unique talent. For me, he is one of the best minors in the country. It was like stuff you saw back in the 80s and 90s! It was brilliant to watch."
Power outshone Waterford top scorer Cormac Spain who finished with 1-12. Paul Rodgers, younger brother of Clare senior Mark, was a constant menace at full forward for the visitors. He shot 1-8 including a blistering second half strike.
In glorious sunshine, Waterford led 10-9 after an opening half where the sides were level on seven occasions. The hosts could have been further ahead as they registered seven wides and two balls short.
The score of the half came on fourteen minutes when Jack Power motored forward and offloaded to Jamie Shanahan who spun around like a ballerina before he sent the ball between the uprights. Power made three terrific catches.
Cormac Spain sent over five points for the Déise including two from play. Zak Phelan stuck to his task however and won two balls off the Ballygunner hot shot. Gearoid O'Shea also got two from play while Dylan Murphy nailed a beauty from the scoreboard corner.
Clare had six different scorers. Paul Rodgers supplied three points. He enjoyed a great tussle with Conor Lynch on the edge of the square. Waterford goalkeeper James Comerford saved a low shot from Graham Ball in the eighth minute.
Points from Spain (free), Shanahan and Shane Power made it 13-9 to the Déise within four minutes of the restart. Rodgers nailed a free in response. On 36 minutes, Rodgers was pulled back by Lynch as he tried to advance on goal. Referee Kevin O'Sullivan signalled advantage as Rodgers rifled a shot past Comerford at his near post (1-10 to 0-13).
Comerford was on his toes to intercept another Clare goal chance moments later as John Barry couldn't pick out Liam Murphy. Three Rodgers frees left the visitors a goal to the good entering the final quarter (1-14 to 0-14). Clare sub James O'Donnell bore down on goal with twelve minutes left but couldn't finish from a tight angle.
Two Spain frees cut the gap to one. The number thirteen then hared down the end line and flashed the ball across the face of goal and wide. The teams were tied with five minutes to go when a Spain free, from inside his own half, hopped off the surface and deceived Clare goalkeeper Leon Talty. There was only one winner after that.
