Minor Footballers make their exit to slick Clare outfit
Clare 3-12
Tipperary 0-6
By Enda Treacy in LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
The curtain came down on Tipperary’s Munster championship campaign in devastating fashion last Wednesday, as Clare brushed aside their opponents with little fuss to canter to an impressive 15-point victory and claim the Darrel Darcy Cup and with it progression to phase to of the competition with Kerry and Cork.
After the disappointing second half performance against Clare in the round-robin stage three weeks previously, it was expected to be a much closer affair as Tipp would get a crack at this Banner team with lessons learned under the belt and a neutral venue to even the stakes.
However, this never materialized as Tipp were on the back foot early in this game, with Clare asserting their dominance and never letting up, looking like the far more rounded team as their key players made the difference to kill off the game as a contest before half-time.
There was more in this Tipperary team and that will be the most disappointing aspect for the players and management, as the confidence seemed to plummet as Clare gradually converted their dominance into scores in the last ten minutes of the half.
The first half never went to plan from a Tipperary perspective and with the mild breeze present in the stadium going against them, they couldn’t get to grips with Clare runners when on the back foot, with Jamie Stack and Shane Meehan again representing the threat for the Tipperary rearguard.
Much of the deficiencies from Tipperary in the previous meeting in Cusack Park were on show again, with both teams again setting up defensively in the first half, but Clare had the lion’s share of possession and were looking far more incisive in attacking areas – Diarmuid Fahy’s goal in the sixth minute coming from a poor Tipp kickout, with Dara Nagle sending his teammate through to stroke home with the left foot.
But despite this, Tipp were just three points behind coming up on 20 minutes with Kyle Shelly and Ben Comerford both sending over excellent solo efforts to give Tipp some impetus but these were rare cutting forays into the Clare defence and with the Banner notching a second excellent goal through a Dara Nagle rasper in the 24th minute, it would prove to be a mountain too big for Tipp to climb as their game plan was well and truly gone out the window, as they would now have to chase the game.
There was definitely more of a threat from Tipp from the throw in as they looked to eat into the half time deficit of 2-6 to 0-3 and had Paddy Creedon scored a guilt edged goal chance in the 35th minute it might have gotten Tipp back in with a shout, but with Tipp opening up it gave Clare opportunities at the other end as Shane Meehan pulled all the strings as they notched a further 1-6 in the second half – Brendan Rouine’s goal highlighting the huge gaps left open in the Tipp as he sauntered in unchallenged to slot home his sides third goal late in the game to seal the win.
Full reaction in next weeks Guardian
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Ciaran McMahon (Clare)
SCORERS – Clare: Shane Meehan 0-5 (2 frees), Brendan Rouine 1-1; Diarmuid Fahy, Dara Nagle 1-0 each; Jamie Stack (1 free), Cillian McGroary 0-2 each; Conor Hassett, Tomas Meenaghan 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Liam Armstrong (frees), Ben Comerford 0-2 each; Kyle Shelly, Conor Shanahan 0-1 each.
TEAMS - Clare: Oisin O’Loughlin; Tadgh Lillis, Micheal Garry, Ciaran McMahon; Cillian McGroary, Alan Killeen, Fionn Kelleher; Eoin Rouine, Brendan Rouine; Conor Hassett, Diarmuid Fahy, Dara Nagle; Eoin Talty, Shane Meehan, Jamie Stack.
Subs: Liam Murphy for Talty (54); Shane Browne for Meehan (54), Tomas Meenaghan for Fahy (58), Keith Crowley for Kelliher (60), Eoin Walshe for Hassett (60+2).
Tipperary: James Griffin (Upperchurch-Drombane); Christy McDonagh (Cahir), Tadhg Condon (Clonmel Commercials), Emmet Butler (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); James Armstrong (Thurles Sarsfields), Donagh Hickey (Arravale Rovers), Conor Shanahan (Inane Rovers); Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields), Tom Tobin (Rosegreen); Luke Seacy (Inane Rovers), Rory Collins (Moyle Rovers), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler-Ballyneale); Eoin McCarthy (Clonmel Commercials), Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris, Capt), Jamie Holloway (Carrick Swan).
Subs: Liam King (Ballinahinch) for McCarthy (26); Liam McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields) for Holloway (26); James Corcoran (JK Brackens) for Armstrong (HT); Jack Lillis (Drom & Inch) for Tobin (HT); Darragh McCahey (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Butler (37); Conor Cadell (JK Brackens) for Collins (47).
Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry)