'Clare stood up under pressure'

MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Waterford 0-18 Clare 2-22

Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

Story Of The Game

CLARE Frees For: 13 (5/8)

Wides: 8 (4/4)

Scores from Play: 2-13

Spread of Scorers: 8

Top Scorer: Tony Kelly (0-13)

Own Puck-Outs won: 21 from 31 (68%)

WATERFORD Frees For: 14 (9/5)

Wides: 15 (12/3)

Scores from Play: 0-7

Spread of Scorers: 6

Top Scorer: Stephen Bennett (0-7)

Own Puck-Outs won: 19 from 32 (59%)

REFEREE: John Keenan (Wicklow)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“I’m happy to get the win. We were under pressure to back up the performance against Limerick and get a win so we’re delighted to do that.

“It was hard work to beat Limerick so had we come down here and lost, it would have been a big defeat for us.

“I suppose the nature of the Munster Championship is that nearly every team has their back against the wall as you can’t really afford to lose any game or if you do, it puts you under a lot of pressure.

“It took us a bit of time to get to grips with their [Waterford’s] puck-out but

I think we got to grips with it fairly well. And obviously when they went down a man it meant we could push up and they had to go long and play the ball into our numbers and into our strength so we’re happy enough with how we dealt with it.

“[Whether it’s good to go straight into the Cork game next Sunday] depends on how the lads are after today and what injuries that we’ve picked up.

“It’s great to be going home and we’d be hoping there’ll be a good crowd there. Our crowd has got behind the team and they appreciate the work the squad are doing and the commitments they’re making.

“It was disappointing for us not to produce it the first day out when we were at home against Tipp so I suppose we have an opportunity to try and right that.

“It’s a big game for us and big game for Cork.”