CLARE qualified for the semifinal of the McGrath Cup football tournament by beating Waterford in a game played in atrocious conditions at Doonbeg yesterday.

Clare played the better football throughout yet struggled to pull away from the visitors and the result was in doubt until near the end. Clare led by just a point at half-time having conceded a goal from a penalty spot two minutes before the break.

Three points in the first five minutes of the second half enabled Clare to open a four-point gap, but again Waterford hit back and levelled at the turn of the final quarter. However, Clare added four points without reply in the remaining time to seal a place in the semi-final on February 18th.