Hogan the hero as Tipp edge past Clare

GAA: Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 1 Round 2

Tipperary 0-15

Clare 0-14

Report: Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium

Photos: Bridget Delaney

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Seán Fennell (Clare)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Daithí Hogan 0-3 (1 free); Joe Higgins (2pt), Dylan Cotter, Paddy O’Keeffe 0-2 each; Billy Tierney, Charlie King, Jamie O’Keeffe, Darragh O’Connor, Ben Carey (free), Tommy O’Connor 0-1 each.

Clare: Seán Fennell 0-7 (1x2pt free); Conor Fennell 0-3 (1x2pt free, 1 free); Seán McMahon 0-2; Odhrán O’Connell, Daire Culligan (free) 0-1 each.

“Relief. Utter relief,” was Niall Fitzgerald’s reaction after Daithí Hogan’s last-gasp fisted point gave Tipperary their second consecutive victory in the Munster Under 20 Football Championship on Saturday.

Compared to their opening-day stroll against Limerick, Tipp had to show admirable resolve to salvage a win against a Clare side fighting for survival at FBD Semple Stadium.

The visitors looked the more likely winners as the game entered stoppage time despite Charlie King bringing the sides level for a ninth time. They held onto the ball for almost the entire three added minutes, but Darragh Townsend whipped a goal chance wide and goalkeeper Eoin Byrne missed another shot with thirty seconds remaining.

It was just enough time for Thomas Charles to win the kick-out break and Ben Carey to deliver a terrific pass to meet Hogan’s backdoor cut. The corner-forward’s dancing feet left his marker in a heap on the ground, and he chose the right option, turning down an effort on goal to fist the winning point.

“What I was really pleased with was the character they showed. When their back was to the wall, they dug out a win,” said manager Fitzgerald.

“It was a great score from Daithí at the end. The big thing was we held them out for… it felt like ten minutes but definitely for two or three minutes and didn’t give them a sniff of a scoring opportunity. That’s what got us over the line in the end.

“We were happy with elements of the performance but there were definitely parts that we’re really disappointed with. We were very wasteful at times during the second half and made it hard for ourselves.”

Tipp have all but secured progression to join Cork and Kerry in the second phase. They can only be pipped on score difference if Waterford record a heavy win at Clonmel Sportsfield on Saturday and Limerick inflict a hammering on Clare. That looks unlikely even before considering that the Banner are still alive and hold a feasible route to qualify in second place.

“Waterford will be a tough outing again,” said Fitzgerald.

“They just lost to Limerick by two and there’s not going to be a whole pile between us.”

Seán Fennell, just graduated from the minor ranks, was Clare’s star shooter with 0-7 (five from play, a two-point free, and no wides). But Tipp had the more even spread with ten different scorers, despite accumulating eight second-half wides.

Fennell wore the number nine but started at centre-forward and drifted into pockets of space to register six first-half points. Once he was moved into the inside line after the break, Eoin O’Connell limited his influence apart from one goal chance, which was diverted over the bar by Robbie McGrath.

“We didn’t create any goal chance, which was disappointing,” added Fitzgerald.

“Every game you play, you have stuff to work on afterwards and today is no different. We have stuff that we need to fix before next weekend.

“We spoke at half-time that we were counter-attacking at pace, but we were getting turned over at times. It was impossible to keep the pace of that up for the game. We wanted to be more controlled in the second half and we were at times.”

This game was played without the latest amendments to Gaelic football’s new rules, which meant goalkeepers McGrath and Byrne could continue to roam without leaving a fourth defender back. Those rules will kick in for phase 2 of this competition when Cork and Kerry join the top two qualifiers.

“It was the most sensible decision,” said Fitzgerald.

“It would’ve been very difficult to change midweek between two games. At least we’ll have the bones of ten days to sort it if we get out of the group.”

Fennell got Clare on the board from the throw-in and the Banner continued to look dangerous with captain Seán McMahon’s probing passes across the square cut out by Emmet Bonner and McGrath.

Tipp capitalised on those turnovers to reel off four points. Paddy O’Keeffe swung over the first pair, Dylan Cotter slotted the next, and Hogan added a free.

The impressive defensive performance of Conor Hill stabilised Clare and Luke Pyne drove them forward for McMahon and Fennell points. Wing-back Pyne would finish with five assists. They jumped ahead, 0-5 to 0-4, when Fennell nailed a two-point free.

From a Dylan Cotter mark, corner-back Billy Tierney gambled forward for a fine individual point and Carey converted a free to restore Tipp’s lead.

Fennell exploited another pocket of space to score before Tierney’s interception sparked a move that was finished by a lovely Jamie O’Keeffe kick from just inside the arc. Fennell showed great balance to bring his first-half tally to 0-6 and McMahon’s jinking point edged them in 0-8 to 0-7 ahead at half-time.

Tipp grew into the game, although those wides soon began to infect their play. The first, from Killian Butler, was hotly disputed by the wing-back and the New Stand supporters as the umpire waved wide.

The diminutive Tommy O’Connor rose highest to punch a dropping Darragh O’Connor shot over the bar. The midfielder’s next shot didn’t need any help to split the posts for the lead score.

They traded further points via Daire Culligan (free) and Hogan, thanks to brilliant work by Jamie O’Keeffe, before Clare carved out the first shot on goal. McMahon found Fennell in space again, but McGrath deflected his attempt over the bar. That levelled at 0-10 all but Tipp pushed on with King finding Joe Higgins to launch Tipp’s first two-pointer of the Championship. After a Butler mark, Cotter tagged on his second of the day.

Indiscipline cost them their cushion. Substitute Conor Fennell knocked over an acute free before O’Connell kicked the ball away to allow the reliable free-taker a two-point pop at the posts.

Clare’s patient attack wound down the clock before Odhrán O’Connell tapped over for a 0-14 to 0-13 lead. But King played a captain’s role to step forward for an immediate leveller and Hogan had the final say.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney), Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers), Charlie King (Ballina, Capt), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Darragh O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials); Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels), Ben Carey (Ballylooby/Castlegrace), Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials); Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers), Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan/Kilcash).

Subs: Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan) for T O’Connor (47); JP Mbokha Tansia (Ballina) for Cotter (56); Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for P O’Keeffe (56).

Clare: Eoin Byrne; Michael Kelly, Daire Hill, Conor Hill; Ewan Wragg, Caoimhín O’Donovan, Luke Pyne; Seán McAllister, Evan Cahill; Darragh Killeen, Seán Fennell, Seán McMahon (Capt); Daire Culligan, Colin Riordan, Diarmuid McMahon.

Subs: Conor Fennell for Riordan (38); Darragh Townsend for D McMahon (46); Odhrán O’Connell for Culligan (52); Tadgh Lysaght for S McMahon (60).

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).

TIPPERARY v WATERFORD

Clonmel Sportsfield

Saturday, 22nd March

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare)