Waterford vs Clare Preview
The National Hurling League continues this week with Waterford vs Clare. It’s an important match as first in Roinn One Group A plays second. Waterford leads the way on point difference ahead of Clare. They are the only teams in the group with a victory this season. However, someone’s unbeaten run is bound to end this weekend.
Waterford started the season with a victory over Offaly in round one of the NHL. The Déise dominated early in the match, finding the back of the net on three occasions. Clare hosted Cork in the first round of the division last week in a much closer contest. In the end, three points separated the sides, giving Clare a winning start to the 2024 campaign. The clubs face off on Sunday, January 11th 1:45 pm at Walsh Park.
Waterford vs Clare Head-To-Head and Key Stats
The last time these two hurling clubs met was in May 2023. They faced off in round three of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. It was a one-sided affair with Clare, the worthy winners 2-22 to 0-16. Clare came first during the group stage, winning three matches and only losing one. They advanced to the final, along with Limerick, in a match they lost by one point.
Waterford vs Clare last took place at Semple Stadium in Thurles, in front of nearly 15,000 expectant fans. The match started with both teams trading blows until around halfway through the first half when it was 0-05 apiece. Clare took a two-point lead before some brilliant defending set up a lightning-fast counterattack. Tony Kelly stopped the Waterford attack and sent the sliotar right into the heart of the midfield. Another long pass up the park leaves the Clare forwards two on two. Beautiful play set Ian Galvin away for a tidy finish into the bottom right corner.
The halftime score finished 0-10 to 1-10 and Waterford were in with a chance. However, they were going to have to do it the hard way, following a red card to Calum Lyon after 30 minutes. The second half started with Clare flexing their muscle, scoring points, and extending their lead. With an eight-point advantage, Clare got their second goal of the game. A diagonal ball found Peter Duggan, who flicked it over his head to Cathal Malone. Malone made no mistake beating the goalkeeper with a first-time strike.
Waterford got outplayed and comfortably outscored after losing a man inside the first half when they last faced Clare in 2023. However, they have started this National Hurling Season season in fine form and found the back of the net three times in the first round. Last week they faced Offaly at the Glenisk O’Connor Park, and they won by 12 points. The game was tight until the final stages after Leon Fox received his marching orders for Offaly. Poor first-half defending cost Offaly in the end, as Stephen Bennett fired in two goals and Sean Walsh got the other one. It was a flattering scoreline, but Waterford was the worthy winner.
Clare also started the new NHL campaign with a win after achieving a 1-25 to 2-19 triumph over Cork. In the first 18 minutes, Clare was on top with nine points scored and only three conceded. However, Patrick Horgan found the back of the net for Cork after fantastic solos from Shane Kingston and Seán Twomey. Tommy O’Connell fired in another for the away side a few minutes later. Clare was unfazed and continued to chip away until a fantastic move allowed Séadna Morey to find the back of the net.
Both sides had wobbles during their National Hurling League first-round fixtures last weekend, but they secured the two points. Waterford made use of the extra man to win by a comfortable margin. Clare allowed Cork into the game but was unfazed by the brilliant attacking moves of the opposition. They continued to fire between the posts and took their chance to beat the keeper late in the second half. Betting on hurling this weekend will be difficult as both sides look evenly matched.
Waterford vs Clare Predictions
Looking at the Novibet online betting site, there is a consensus towards Clare being the favourites this Sunday. Waterford might have the advantage of playing at home, but they are the underdogs at the bookies. With odds of 5/4, a €25 wager on the Gentle County will return €56.25. Placing the same wager on Clare at 4/5 will give you €45 if they are leading at the final whistle. A draw between these GAA clubs could be on the cards, and the bookmakers are offering 8/1.
Our prediction for this match is for Clare to win this contest by three points or fewer. Given the most recent meeting between these clubs went to Clare, we can see the Banner continuing their unbeaten run this weekend. Waterford ended up with a comfortable victory over Offaly, but it took them long enough to utilise the advantage of an extra man. Clare conceded two against Cork, but they had a solid game plan and stuck to it throughout the match. We predict they will continue to fire in points, plus take any opportunities to punish sloppy defending.
Placing a bet on the NHL is always exciting, as you never know how a team will perform. Clare was fantastic at taking almost every chance they got last week. Whether it was to beat the goalkeeper or to fire between the posts from long range, they were lethal against Cork. Waterford did not always look comfortable in the match. However, we predict this GAA event will be close, and neither side will run away with it.
Last week, Clare once found the back of the net and conceded two goals. Waterford scored three goals in the first half against Offaly while conceding zero. We predict there will be fewer chances for either side to test the goalkeepers this weekend. Given Waterford’s’ fast start last weekend, we predict they will score first. It took Clare over an hour to find a goal of their own. We think both teams will score one goal each before the final whistle.
Waterford vs Clare Betting Tips
Betting on this GAA event is going to be difficult as both sides have a chance of winning. They are only two teams in Group A with two points on the board, and they face off this weekend. Betting on a full-time result is tough, as there is not a lot to go on heading into this fixture. Historically speaking, Clare has the better of Waterford, but we are going back almost 10 months since their last meeting.
If you are determined to bet on Clare, this week could be a good time to investigate handicap betting. We predict this hurling match will be close, so a handicap wager will give you even greater returns. The size of the handicap in this fixture is only worth one point. That means Clare will need to win by two or more points to win the bet. Waterford can lose by one point and still win the wager. Betting on this market for Clare has even odds, meaning you get back whatever you put it. The odds for Waterford are 10/11, which will yield €19.09 from a ten-euro bet.
Another alternative market for this match is to bet on whether both teams will score. We predict Waterford will find the back of the net in the first half, and Clare will respond later in the second. However, choosing any of the options for this wager has greater returns than an outright prediction. You can bet on whether only one team will score or if the defences will keep a clean sheet.
Allianz Hurling League Rd 2
📅 Sunday 11th Feb
🏟 Walsh Park, Waterford
🕐 13:45Ticket sales online only:https://t.co/EvhBHSchHE
List of the active stores attached where people can buy or online. https://t.co/u1Dxyglwtu pic.twitter.com/ddVsZAC6mn
— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) February 5, 2024
Anyone considering live betting on this event needs to be mindful of how both teams played last week. There were periods in the fixtures where either side went blow for blow. Meaning after one club scored a point, the other would quickly respond. If this match continues in a similar vein, you must be careful when placing a live bet. Do not get caught out by another red card or an individual error this weekend.
As we are one week into the new season, there are plenty of welcome bonuses out there. If you sign up for the Novibet sportsbook, you will receive a promotion when you deposit. These promotions allow you to bet on sporting events without using your actual cash. If you get it right, you have free winnings to enjoy. But if you get it wrong, you have not lost real money.
