Clare goals hand Tipp minors first defeat

The concession of three first half goals scuppered Tipperary’s chances of a third win in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship last evening as holders Clare stayed unbeaten and look best placed to reach the provincial final.

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 4

Tipperary 0-19

Clare 4-11

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Euan Murray (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Eoghan Doughan 0-9 (8 frees); Euan Murray 0-4; Killian Cantwell, Cillian Minogue 0-2 each; Tiarnan Ryan, Darragh O’Hora 0-1 each.

Clare: Liam Murphy 3-0; Matthew Corbett 0-5 (4 frees); Harry Doherty 0-3 (2 frees); Conor Ralph 1-0; Patrick Finneran 0-2; James Cullinan 0-1.

In the round-robin series, Tipp have two wins (Cork and Waterford), as have Cork, with Waterford victors over a win-less Limerick. Clare have three wins. Tipp’s next game is against Limerick while Cork and Clare clash. The top two teams reach the final, which means that a Tipp win over Limerick, and a Clare win over Cork, would see Clare and Tipp pair off again in the Munster final. Should Cork beat Clare and Tipp beat Limerick, it would leave Tipp, Clare and Cork with three wins each, scoring difference then coming into play to determine who goes through to the final. Four teams go through to the All-Ireland stages of the minor championship, so Tipp, Clare and Cork have already qualified.

The real damage was done in this game between the 8th & 16th minutes. Tipp had opened smoothy to be three points clear after six minutes with Clare yet to register a score. Cillian Minogue, Killian Cantwell, and Euan Murray were the marksmen but then Conor Ralph shrugged off three Tipp tackles to score a goal that inspired the Banner boys.

Two minutes later, Liam Murphy exposed the openness of the Tipp defence to score a second Clare goal, and Murphy was again on target in the sixteenth minute, punishing a hesitant Tipp defence, for a 3-2 to 0-4 lead.

Clare were now dictating things but credit Tipp – they produced a strong finish to the half, with Eoghan Doughan (3), Euan Murray, Tipp’s best player, and Cillian Minogue, all notching points to leave Tipp 0-9 to 3-4 adrift at the break. It was nine scores to seven, but the goals made all the difference, though the deficit was very definitely manageable.

The third quarter belonged to Tipperary, climaxed by five Eoghan Doughan points from frees from the 36th to the 45th minutes, to bring Tipp level (0-16 to 3-7). The momentum was with Tipp who looked set to drove on for a win but then disaster struck again as Jerry O’Connor’s shot for Clare hit the woodwork and Liam Murphy reacted smartly to bang home his third goal and Clare’s fourth in the 49th minute.

Matthew Corbett added a point had raised the siege to go four points clear with ten minutes to play. Again, not an insurmountable lead, but the effort of drawing level was taking its toll. Tipp never threatened a goal at any stage, and the closing ten minutes saw the teams share six points to leave Clare topping the table and looking likely provincial finalists.

The statistics show Tipp outscoring Clare 19 to 15, but the four Clare goals were crippling, and made Tipp’s chances of recovery well nigh impossible. This is an aspect of their game that manager James Woodlock and his backroom team, will be addressing before their next outing, mindful of the fact that they conceded similarly to Cork in the first round.

It was a disappointing outcome for Tipp who, at their best, were impressive, but who were made to pay dearly for defensive lapses. On the evidence of this encounter, Tipp are capable of beating Clare should they meet again but a tightening in defence is required. Three of the starting forwards failed to score, and four were replaced, food for thought there also.

Euan Murray was Tipp’s most impressive performer and looks a real prospect for the future. Cillian Minogue and Killian Cantwell also did their bit while Eoghan Doughan’s accuracy off frees is vital to the side. Others to acquit themselves well were Cathal O’Reilly, Patrick Ryan, and Jake Donnellan Houlihan.

Clare hurling is on a roll at present and this minor side is capable of achieving back-to-back provincial titles. This was a big confidence-boosting win for them, but they will be mindful that no silverware is yet on the table. Harry Doherty had a great first half for them, dominating in the air. Liam Murphy’s hat-trick of goals was hugely influential while Matthew Corbett, James Cullinan and Sean McNamara were others to catch the eye.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Evan Sherlock (Silvermines), Shane Ryan (Killenaule), Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill), Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); David Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Owen O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Jake Donelan-Houlihan (Nenagh Eire Og); Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey/Borris); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Euan Murray (Durlas Og), Billy O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og); Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall), Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan), Cillian Minogue (Durlas Og).

Subs: Aaron Cagney (St Mary’s) for Minogue (50); Darragh O’Hora (Solohead) for Cantwell (53); Paul Cummins (Ballybacon/Grange) for A Ryan (57); Jack Cahill (Ballingarry) for Doughan (57); Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og) for O’Brien (60+1).

Clare: Matthew Crotty; Darren Moroney, Sean McNamara, Sean Og Kilkenny; Dara Kennedy, James Cullinan, Riam Mulcahy; Graham Ball, Matthew Corbett; Darragh McNamara, Patrick Finneran, Harry Doherty; Conor Ralph, Paul Rodgers, Liam Murphy.

Subs: Jerry O’Connor for McNamara (HT); Ryan Hayes for Mulcahy (40); Tadgh Lohan for Finneran (47); Darragh Ball for Rodgers (49); Eanna Collins for Kilkenny (53).

Referee: Seaghan Walsh (Waterford)