When the dust settled on Semple Stadium, it was Tony Kelly, Davy Fitz and Clare who took the spotlight, but Waterford eyes were fixed on one man.
Cork referee Diarmuid Kirwan's decision to award Kelly and Clare a free where Jamie Barron had been denied for a seemingly identical challenge not seconds previous was contentious, at best. But from there, it was the 22-year-old Ennis man who stole the game for Clare with two scores in the final 30 seconds of play.
I say 'stole', and surely even the most staunch Clare fan couldn't disagree; Kelly's magnificent winning point as stoppage time elapsed was just the second time the Banner had led in the entire game.
He finished with a tally of 1-6, with 1-5 of those scores arriving from play including a magnificent goal which narrowed the deficit midway through the second half.
At full-time, the scores were Clare 1-23, Waterford 2-19.
Tony Kelly is #tekkers lads
— Conor.mortimer (😷)⚽️ (@Conmort) May 8, 2016
In fairness the free to level it was soft but the point to win it was quality! #ClarevWaterford #TonyKelly
— Keith Higgins (@keithhiggins7) May 8, 2016
What a player Tony Kelly! What spirit in Clare ! Never gave up but hard luck Waterford. Deserved extra time at least. Kelly is very special!
— Marty Morrissey (@MartyM_RTE) May 8, 2016
Who scored that Tony Kelly point, @RTENewsNow? 😂 pic.twitter.com/NvmmkGshQP
— Niall O’Keeffe (@NiallOK) May 8, 2016
Tony kelly my good god
— Thomas McGrath (@ThomasMcGrath0) May 8, 2016
Tony Kelly is unstoppable in that kind of form. #gaabeo #hurling @DonalOgC #allianzhurling
— Subterranean Homesick Alien (@Gingernut78) May 8, 2016
Davy Fitz owes Tony Kelly a lifetime supply of Mi Wadi after that! #AllianzLeagues #gaabeo pic.twitter.com/biUXbBCako
— Aidan O'Mahony (@AidanOMahony) May 8, 2016
V enjoyable game. Tony Kelly was unreal but surely Jamie Barron was fouled! Wrong decision decided the game
— Michael Duignan (@DuignanMichael) May 8, 2016
That would make you sick but fuck me tony kelly is some player
— Ruairí (@ConwayRuairi) May 8, 2016
I'd do dirty things for Tony Kelly's wrists
— Sal Tinism (@Saltinism) May 8, 2016
Hon the Banner. Tony Kelly will definitely get the ride tonight!#AllianzLeagues #ClarevWaterford
— Stacey Moloney (@StaceyMoloney1) May 8, 2016
Waterford entitled to complain. Jamie Barron denied a stonewall free with them a point ahead in injury time.
— Enda McEvoy (@EndaEndamac95) May 8, 2016
Foul on Barron and then gives Kelly a free for nothing
— Smaller Fish GAA (@SmallerFishGAA) May 8, 2016
Terrible refereeing at the end. Obvious Foul on Waterford's Barron not given and he gives a non free to Tony Kelly to level it.
— Yellowbelly.ie 🟨🟪 (@yellowbelly_ie) May 8, 2016
Tony Kelly deserved to win that but Jamie Barron robbed of a free just before the equaliser
— ConorMcKeon (@ConorMcKn) May 8, 2016
@DuignanMichael i think there was a clare player fouled just before Barron got the ball..guessing ref left just left them get on with it
— john ryan (@simplyginger) May 8, 2016
The win was Clare's first top flight league victory since 1978, and their two battles with a hugely talented Waterford side sets up a tantalising Munster Championship.
20-year-old corner-forward Patrick Curran scored 1-9 for the Déise.
Waterofrd hurling legend John Mullane, for one, wasn't too impressed with the referee's performance:
'He's After Having An Absolute Mare' - John Mullane Passionately Slams League Final Referee https://t.co/nVkCgOLeNz
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) May 8, 2016
