![\"Tony](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5046866_12_articleinline_94536_2938310.jpg\" "\\"Tony")
Tony Kelly signs autographs for fans after the game. Pic: \u00a9INPHO\/Natasha Barton.<\/p>\nDespite leaking four goals he couldn\u2019t really be blamed for any of them, even stopping Bennett\u2019s first before being returned with interest. Puck-outs sharp directly accounting for 1-8.<\/p>\n
\n Rory Hayes 6\n <\/p>\n
Had a really eventful hour on Dessie Hutchinson, with both having their moments but sealed his fate with strong shoulder into Jack Prendergast chest bursting out of defence.<\/p>\n
\n Conor Cleary 6\n <\/p>\n
Had as tough as test as he\u2019s ever had in his previous 45 championship appearances on newcomer Sean Walsh who won early penalty and was a real aerial handful.<\/p>\n
\n Adam Hogan 7\n <\/p>\n
In the wars a few times, even coming off as a blood sub but produced a truly inspirational block on a Sean Walsh goal-bound shot at the start of the new half that was worth admission fee alone.<\/p>\n
\n Diarmuid Ryan 7\n <\/p>\n
Rock solid in both defence and attack, scoring a point in each half but was kept on his toes by a number of different markers.<\/p>\n
\n Niall O\u2019Farrell 7\n <\/p>\n
His exploits as a forward got him on the panel but made his senior championship debut at centre-back, something he took in his undoubted stride.<\/p>\n
\n Cathal Malone 7\n <\/p>\n
Marked his 50th championship appearance with a gritty performance in a new role at wing-back. Had to keep a fresh Austin Gleeson at bay in an important late match-up.<\/p>\n
\n Darragh Lohan 7\n <\/p>\n
Quietish first half but excelled in second period, starting with having a major hand in Duggan\u2019s goal before scoring two points of his own.<\/p>\n
\n Ryan Taylor 6\n <\/p>\n
Like Lohan, Taylor was stifled in the opening half but opened the second half scoring and was much more involved as the tie fragmented.<\/p>\n
Tony Kelly signs autographs for fans after the game. Pic: \u00a9INPHO\/Natasha Barton.<\/p>\n
Missed the league final but repeatedly showed why he is captain with a four point haul including a reply to both Bennett first quarter goals. Too elusive for Waterford to track.<\/p>\n
\n David Reidy 6\n <\/p>\n
Another Banner player to be hit by a succession of blows, first to his hip while an off-the-ball strike at the turn of the final quarter saw him replaced.<\/p>\n
\n Sean Rynne 8\n <\/p>\n
Only his second ever senior start but performed like a grizzled veteran, picking off five points to become the hosts top scorer from play.<\/p>\n
\n Mark Rodgers 8\n <\/p>\n
Doubts about his fitness were quickly rubbished by a five star free-taking display as he was unerring with eleven placed balls and even set up the goal for Duggan.<\/p>\n
\n Shane O\u2019Donnell 8\n <\/p>\n
A ball and marker magnet, O\u2019Donnell is superbly adept at being playmaker and scorer. Was also fouled for three of Rodgers\u2019 free count.<\/p>\n
\n Peter Duggan 7\n <\/p>\n
Was largely frustrated as a target man, only getting one goal sighting that he kicked over the bar. However, came into his own as a puck-out target on the wing in the second half.<\/p>\n
\n Subs:\n <\/p>\n
There were senior debuts for Diarmuid Stritch and Ronan Kilroy, with the former raiding for three points in an electric cameo while Shane Meehan sealed the first points with a last gasp goal made by fellow replacements Conor Leen and Ian Galvin.<\/p>\n
\n Billy Nolan 9\n <\/p>\n
Inspired throughout, producing three top drawer saves to deny the hosts while also provided direct assist for two of Stephen Bennett\u2019s goals.<\/p>\n
\n Aaron O\u2019Neill 7\n <\/p>\n
A baptism of fire for the Ballygunner defender who coped admirably, particularly in tough aerial warfare with Peter Duggan in the opening period.<\/p>\n
\n Mark Fitzgerald 7\n <\/p>\n
Shadowed Shane O\u2019Donnell for the majority which was a thankless task and meant that he had to sacrifice his own influential game in the heart of the Waterford defence.<\/p>\n
\n Ian Kenny 6\n <\/p>\n
Kept Mark Rodgers scoreless from play which was a feat in itself but did give away three frees and was left exposed for final clinching goal.<\/p>\n
\n Jack Fagan 7\n <\/p>\n
Named at 10 but played large chunk at wing-back. Had two early wides but stood up well to keep a baying Banner at bay.<\/p>\n
\n Paddy Leavey 7\n <\/p>\n
Anchored the defence well as predominantly a sweeper and distributor and managed to keep a number of attackers scoreless.<\/p>\n
\n Shane Bennett 6\n <\/p>\n
Had a tough job trying to track Tony Kelly early on and found Sean Rynne equally as tough despite hitting a bit of ball himself.<\/p>\n
![\"Shane](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5046869_12_articleinline_94536_2938080.jpg\" "\\"Shane")
Shane Bennett in action against David Reidy. Pic: \u00a9INPHO\/Natasha Barton.<\/p>\n
Battled manfully in the opening period to get the edge around the centre and it would provide a perfect platform to keep the Deise on the front-foot.<\/p>\n
\n Darragh Lyons 7\n <\/p>\n
Tigerish throughout, controversially so at one stage with a strong tackle on Shane O\u2019Donnell. Ran himself into the ground for the cause.<\/p>\n
\n Michael Kiely 6\n <\/p>\n
Arguably positioned too far from goal to really impact. But it was hard to argue with an inside trio of Bennett, Walsh and Hutchinson.<\/p>\n
\n Jamie Barron 7\n <\/p>\n
Looked to use his experience on rookie marker O\u2019Farrell, got a point in each half and was threatening around the goal late on.<\/p>\n
\n Jack Prendergast 7\n <\/p>\n
Didn\u2019t get on the scoresheet himself but won two frees including taking one for the team with a shoulder to the chest by Rory Hayes. Worked tirelessly.<\/p>\n
\n Stephen Bennett 9\n <\/p>\n
A real thorn for Clare, taking his tally to 5-20 in two championship bouts thanks to 3-12 here. Brilliant from placed balls with 1-12 while was a real poacher for remaining two goals.<\/p>\n
\n Sean Walsh 8\n <\/p>\n
Excellent throughout and a real addition to the Waterford attacking arsenal, winning a first quarter penalty while scoring a goal himself in the final quarter.<\/p>\n
\n Dessie Hutchinson 7\n <\/p>\n
Scored three points and thrived in the extra space of the second half but never threatened like Walsh and Bennett did.<\/p>\n
\n Subs:\n <\/p>\n
Austin Gleeson\u2019s return lifted the Waterford crowd and was well merited with a brace of points. Kevin Mahony might have grabbed an injury-time equaliser, thanks to good work from Patrick Curran while Peter Hogan pointed in a grandstand finish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Despite leaking four goals he couldn\u2019t really be blamed for any of them, even stopping Bennett\u2019s first before…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":408197,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[177329,30041,1965,72371,7026,61,60,112],"class_list":{"0":"post-408196","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-championship-2026","9":"tag-clare-gaa","10":"tag-hurling","11":"tag-munster-gaa","12":"tag-waterford-gaa","13":"tag-ie","14":"tag-ireland","15":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/408197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}