Tipp see off Clare to reach phase 1 final

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 1 Round 3

Clare1-8

Tipperary 3-12

Report: Liam Hogan in Shannon

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Joe Higgins (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Clare: Cathal Talty 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees); Sean McMahon 0-2 (1 free); Darren Keane 0-1.

Tipperary: Fionn Fitzgerald 1-4 (0-1 free); Conall Grogan 0-4 (1 free); Ben Carey 1-1; Daithi Hogan 1-0; Patrick O’Keeffe, Charlie English, Eanna Ormond, Oisin Shelly 0-1 each.

Tipperary’s minor footballers maintained their unbeaten run and made sure of a place in the round robin final after they were much too good for Clare in Shannon on Thursday.

Things went according to plan, except for a slow start when Clare, led by Sean McMahon, Darren Keane Conor Fennell and Cathal Tally, went three poinrs in front after twelve minutes. Despite the early set-back Tipp, who were the better team by far, needed a stroke of good fortune to spark their revival.

After Conal Grogan had Tipperary’s opening point from a free in the 14th minute, the immediate kickout by Clare goalkeeper Cian Howard intended for one of his half backs broke down and Ben Carey took advantage by darting past two defenders and kicking the ball into an empty net.

The Tipperary forward line earned more chances and in the 22nd minute Tipperary had goal number two when Carey and Fionn Fitzgerald combined for the later to score after a second attempt. By half time Tipp led 2-6 to 0-5.

Conal Grogan increased Tipp’s lead to eight after the restart but Clare refused to give in. Inaccuracy in front of goal cost them dearly as their net result was three wides. Luck wasn’t on their side either as midfielder Tadgh Lysaght was black-carded for a blatant pull down on Joe Higgins who was through on goal.

Tipp didn’t score again until the 41st minute when Ben Carey scored from play. It became score for score over the next few minutes as Cathal Talty replied with a free four minutes later before Grogan scored from play sixty seconds later.

Then in the 51st minute Clare’s best player Sean McMahon ventured up field from wing back to score but they would not score again over the next ten minutes in a period where the much faster Tipp team scored three unanswered points through Fionn Fitzgerald plus one each from substitutes Alex Healy and Eanna Ormond proving that The Tipp bench could score also.

Cathal Talty increased his tally to five with his latest free in added time and then he scored a goal from a penalty. However, Fionn Fitzgerald was Tipperary’s top scorer and he replied with a point. Once again, the execution of the Clare restart was poor and Tipp intercepted with Daithi Hogan racing through for goal number three.

Tipp could relax, known they were through to the final when they play Limerick in the phase 1 final next Thursday 5th May.

TEAMS - Clare: Cian Howard; Michael Kelly, Daire Hill, Ronan Kilroy; Sean McMahon (Capt), Paddy Nagle, Evan Cahill; Jake Garry, Tadgh Lysaght; Gavin O’Shea, Darren Keane, Mark Kelleher; Dara Killeen, Conor Fennell, Cathal Talty.

Subs: Niall Fitzgerald for Kilroy (25); Colin Riordan for O’Shea (38); Kealan O’Donoghue for Fennell (50); Jamie Moylan for Nagle (54).

Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Alex McSherry (Clonmel Commercials), Ciaran Byrne (Golden-Kilfeacle), Jamie Bergin (JK Brackens); Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney), Charlie King (Ballina, Capt), Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Patrick O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers); Charlie English (Ballyporeen), Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Ben Carey (Ballylooby/Castlegrace); Conall Grogan (Galtee Rovers), Daithí Hogan (St Patricks), Fionn Fitzgerald (Killenaule).

Subs: Darragh Landers (Clonmel Commercials) for English (46); Eanna Ormond (Golden-Kilfeacle) for O’Connor; Oisin Shelly (Killenaule) for Carey (50); Alex Creed (Clonmel Commercials) for Grogan (57); Dylan Fogarty (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Higgins (57).

Referee: Eoin O Muircheartaigh (Kerry)