To guarantee their passage to next month’s play-offs Waterford were gunning for a win, but Clare had totted up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead inside the first 12 minutes.

Although Paul Flynn pointed a free for the visitors after a minute-and-forty seconds, shots from Alan Markham (0-2), Gilligan, Tony Griffin and a 30-metre effort from Seanie McMahon gave Clare the lead.

Andy Maloney (0-2), Dan Shanahan, Michael Walsh and Flynn (2f) hit quick replies for Waterford between 25 and 34 minutes with substitute Andrew Quinn hitting the last point of the half from a free, to level it.

Daithi O’Connell opened with his first point directly after the restart to put Clare in front before Gilligan (free) and David Forde stretched them into a three-point lead.

Gilligan calmly found the Waterford net three minutes later with a right-handed shot as Clare upped the tempo and their tally to 1-10.

Paul Flynn replied almost immediately with a free from 40 metres and the Ballygunner forward smashed home a close range scramble in the 46th minute to draw the Deise within two points.

It was tit for tat thereafter as the sides were to be level four times throughout the game. After 26 minutes of the second half John Mullane levelled following his second point, and two more from Andy Maloney kept Waterford in the hunt at 1-13 to 1-12 down.

In the 64th minute Gilligan claimed his sixth free to put two between the sides and despite the concession of two further scores to Waterford, Gilligan, O’Connell and a last 40-metre effort from Holland saw Clare claim their fourth win from five.

Waterford also advance in third due to a superior points difference over defending champions Kilkenny.