Tony Kelly says criticism about Clare and Waterford's styles are "unfair".

The Clare star put in a Man of the Match performance in the Allianz League Hurling final replay after an injury-plagued start to the year, scoring two injury time scores to swing the game into The Banner's slipstream.

But the original drawn match was met with criticism for both sides over claims that their approaches were conservative.

"There was a lot made of the drawn game, [that] it was dull and was kind of ruining hurling, but to be honest as players and as management in Clare, we don't really care and I think Waterford would be the same way," he told Off The Ball. 

"We're only there putting our plans in place to win trophies and win games and at the end of the day, we're not sitting up at 6 o'clock in the morning, five or six nights a week to go into Thurles and entertain, first of all. Our first priority is to win games. If it's dull and boring, as long as we're winning as players, I don't think think we'll mind."

He also added that "it's a small bit unfair to label Clare and Waterford's style to the football tactics and [of accusations of] trying to ruin hurling as well".

With Clare to play Waterford again next month in the Munster championship, Kelly says it adds an unusual element to that match.

"It's unusual for teams meeting in championship to play each other twice in a very important game and it just adds to the sense for June 5th which is always good heading into a big Munster championship game," he said.