Tipp Minors fall to late Clare rally

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 2

Clare 1-17

Tipperary 2-12

Report: Liam Hogan at Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog, Ennis

Photos: Odhran Ducie

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: John Barry (Clare)

SCORERS - Clare: John Barry 0-14 (12 frees); Evan Cleary 1-0; Zak Phelan, Gavin Marshall, Graham Ball 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Chris Dunne 1-3; Jack Cahill 0-3 frees; Tommy O’Meara 1-0; Jaye Cilvinas, Conall Morrison 0-2 each; Dylan Hennessy, Paul Cummins 0-1 each.

Outscored 1-3 to 0-1 down the home straight saw Tipperary lose to Clare in an exciting and at time error strewn Munster Minor Hurling Championship round 2 clash in a well contested tie on Saturday.

That last ten minutes of action saw Clare up the gears with Tipp looking shell shocked. It was a game similar to their first round clash with Waterford when the Premier led by five points but lost by two.

When Chris Dunne scored Tipperary’s second goal in the 41st minute they led 2-10 to 0-9. It looked as if Tipp would hold on. Instead, Clare continued to rattle their cage and their goal by midfielder Evan Cleary in the 56th minute brought them to life. Suddenly Clare began winning ball and Tipp were unable to react sufficiently.

Tipperary made one change from the defeat against Waterford with Chris Dunne replacing Padraic O’Shea.

John Barry’s free was the opening score after two minutes before Dylan Hennessey levelled a minute later. His score was the first of three unanswered scores for Tipp including a goal by Tommy O’Meara which helped Tipp to a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.

By the 14th minute the scores were level 1-2 to 0-5 after John Barry brought parity with three frees aided by a Zak Phelan long range point. Tipp were losing ground and the concession of frees was not helping with Clare sharpshooter John Barry unerring from placed balls as the home side went 0-8 to 1-3 in front after twenty minutes.

However, things changed for the better as a re-energised Tipp side hit back with five unanswered points through Chris Dunne, two Jack Cahill frees either side of a point from sub Jaye Cilvinas plus a second Dunne point to put Tipp three clear at the interval, 1-8 to 0-8.

Life was going to be difficult for Tipperary in the second half as they faced a stiff breeze while losing influential midfielder Kieran Rossiter to injury was another hindrance.

Two John Barry frees either side of a second Cilvinas point left two between the teams before Chris Dunne found the net after a poorly organised short puckout by the Clare defence and goalkeeper Leon Talty. Dunne would finish top scorer with 1-3 from play.

At the other end, Tipperary goalkeeper Patrick McCormack produced two excellent saves, the first in the 37th minute when he denied John Barry while the second came eight minutes later when he denied Evan Cleary from close range.

Tipp led by three at that stage before Conall Morrison doubled his account to move four clear, 2-10 to 0-12. Points by Graham Ball and another Barry free had the margin reduced before Chris Dunne had Tipp three clear with 54 minutes gone.

Games have turning points and that came two minutes later when midfielder Evan Cleary burst through the Tipp cover before blasting low past McCormack who got his hurley to the ball but it rolled into the net.

Suddenly the tempo increased. Clare were winning the puckouts as Evan Cleary and wing forward Ian O’Brien won almost every ball as John Barry converted two frees. Paul Cummins reduced the margin to one with a minute remaining. However, Clare were in control and another Barry free, his twelfth to seal a popular win for the home side.

For Tipp its two defeats from two games. They face Limerick and Cork and with four teams qualifying for the knockout stage anything is possible for the defending champions.

TEAMS - Clare: Leon Talty; Darragh Murrihy, Niall Doyle, Cormac Gunning; Zak Phelan, Evan Crimmins, Jack O’Halloran; Graham Ball, Evan Cleary; Gavin Marshall, John Barry, Ian O’Brien; James O’Donnell, Donncha Mahon, Ben Talty.

Subs: Liam Murphy (6) for Mahon (38); Rory Ralph for Marshall (47); Colm Daly for Talty (47); Darragh McInerney for O’Brien (63).

Tipperary: Paddy McCormack (Moneygall); Fred Parry (Moyle Rovers), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Newport), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers); Dylan Hennessy (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), Patrick Hackett (Toomevara), Shane Cooney (Clerihan); Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og), Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Euan Murray (Durlas Og Capt), Paul Cummins (Ballybacon/Grange); Jack Cahill (Ballingarry), Tommy O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers).

Subs: Jaye Cilvinas (Arravale Rovers) for Rossiter (24 inj); Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch/Drombane) for Cahill (49); Padraic O’Shea (JK Brackens) for Kennedy (49); Darragh Doyle (Killenaule) for Cummins (59); Senan Mackey (Knockavilla-D Kickhams) for O’Meara (59).

Referee: Seaghan Walsh (Waterford).