CLARE 1-22 WATERFORD 2-21
Clare face Dublin in a relegation play-off next weekend after losing at home to Waterford in Round 5 of the Allianz National Hurling League.
A toss of the coin will decide the venue for the match that Clare must win to avoid playing in Division 1B next year.
Clare went into Sunday's match against Waterford in second place in Division 1A on score difference. A draw or a win would have secured Division 1A status for 2018 and would also have landed Clare a Quarter Final berth.
However, it was Waterford who came away with two points after a hard-fought 70 minutes in front of 6,640 in Cusack Park.
A late goal from substitute Tom Devine (pictured above) helped to seal Waterford's win in a game which Clare led from the 15th minute to the 64th minute when Devine netted from a rebound after Clare keeper Andrew Fahy had initially made a point blank stop.
Waterford started stronger than Clare and went 1-4 to 0-1 up courtesy of a Shane Bennett goal. Clare rallied however, courtesy of two points from Podge Collins, and scores from Captain Tony Kelly, Ian Galvin and Aron Shanagher.
Collins got Clare's goal on 15 minutes when he rifled past Stephen O'Keeffe to put Clare 1-5 to 1-4 up.
Clare dominated much of the remainder of the first half but some late Waterford scores saw Clare go in only two points up at halftime on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-11.
A brace of scores from frees by Pauric Mahony drew his side level with Clare but three unanswered points from Cathal McInerney, John Conlon and Tony Kelly put Clare back in the driving seat.
A series of pointed frees by Pauric Mahony kept Waterford in the game and Devine's goal in the 64th minute helped Waterford take the lead, one they would not relinquish.
Waterford now take on Galway in the Quarter Finals while Clare face Dublin in a relegation play-off next week. Dublin will welcome back their Cuala continegent for the game. The fixture venue, date and time will be confirmed on Monday.
Hurling league quarter-finals:
Tipperary v Offaly
Cork v Limerick
Waterford v Galway
Kilkenny v Wexford
Relegation Playoff:
Dublin v Clare
Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 0-7 (5f); Podge Collins 1-3; Aron Shanagher, John Conlon, Cathal McInerney 0-2 each; Ian Galvin, David McInerney, Jason McCarthy, Jamie Shanahan, David Fitzgerald, Bobby Duggan 0-1 each
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-10 (8f); Shane Bennett, Tom Devine 1-1 each; Stephen Bennett 0-3; Brian O’Halloran, Austin Gleeson 0-2 each, Patrick Curran, Tommy Ryan 0-1 each
Clare:
1. Andrew Fahy (Whitegate)
2. David McInerney (Tulla)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
22. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
7. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
8. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
10. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
11. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
12. John Conlon (Clonlara)
14. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
13. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe)
18. Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
Subs:
15. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for I. Galvin (25)
19. Patrick Donnellan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) for McCarthy (65)
26. Colm Galvin (Clonlara) for Malone (65)
24. Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle) for C. McInerney (69)
23. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea) for D. McInerney (75, inj)
Waterford:
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
18. Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
19. Stephen Daniels (De La Salle)
5. Tadhg de Burca (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
7. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
9. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
15. Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
Subs:
22. Tom Devine (Modeligo) for Curran (42)
20. Mikey Kearney (Ballyduff Upper) for A. Gleeson (57)
23. Tommy Ryan (Tallow) for O’Halloran (58)
24. Colin Dunford (Colligan) for Shane Bennett (69)
26. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion) for Coughlan (76, inj)
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
