Tipp finish strongly to beat Clare and reach Darcy Cup final

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

Tipperary 0-12

Clare 0-8

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Michael Connellan (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Liam Freaney 0-3 frees; Joey Quinn, Louis Coughlan 0-2 each; Billy Tierney (free), Jamie O’Keeffe, Shane Ryan, Ronan O’Brien, Gavin Neville 0-1 each.

Clare: Daire Culligan 0-4 (2 frees); Evan Cahill, Ben Skerritt, Gearoid Barry, Keith Marrinan 0-1 each.

Tipperary had to dig deep to claim their third successive win in the Munster Minor Football Championship, a four-point victory over Clare on Thursday evening, maintaining their unbeaten run in the phase one series and a final against Limerick, as well as securing a Munster semi-final spot against Cork or Kerry.

It wasn’t Tipp’s best display of the campaign but, crucially, when the pressure came on, they responded in a manner that indicates the quality and resilience in the side, assets which must give them great confidence facing into the knock-out stages.

Nothing less than a win would suffice for Clare to advance. Tipperary had the cushion of superior scoring difference were they to lose and the final spots to be determined on scoring difference. In the circumstances Tipp might have been forgiven for a cagier approach but to their credit they gave it everything from the start and were duly rewarded.

The issue was really decided in the first half. Tipp were measured and structured in their approach going three points clear in six minutes thanks to two Liam Freaney pointed frees and another from Ronan O’Brien. Evan Cahill had Clare’s first point in the seventh minute to which Jamie O’Keeffe responded with a point, when a goal looked certain only for the ball to scrape the crossbar.

Tipp were in control, the work of Sean Lewis at midfield and Michael Connellan in defence particularly noteworthy, and with further scores from Shane Ryan, Joey Quinn, and Billy Tierney from a free, they led at the interval 0-7 to 0-3 and were full value for their advantage.

What a turn-about here was though. Clare came out with fire in their bellies and had Tipp pinned down in their own half throughout the third quarter. Although guilty of some lapses in their finishing, they reeled Tipperary in with four points in twelve minutes, Louis Coughlan’s 37th minute effort for Tipp the only relief as Clare came within a point (0-7 to 0-8) by the 42nd minute.

To compound Tipp’s difficulties, midfielder Sean Lewis got a black card for a clumsy tackle, and now a man short, big questions were being asked of the Tipp lads. To their credit they came up trumps when the chips were down. Joey Quinn pointed in the 52nd minute but Clare’s Daire Culligan countered almost immediately. Two Clare efforts for a leveller were handled confidently by Peter Boland in the Tipp goal and in a counter-attack Mark Neville pointed for Tipp in the 55th minute.

Three minutes later, Louis Coughlan had another Tipp point and though Tipp then lost Ronan O’Brien to a black card in the 60th minute, reducing them to fourteen players for the second time, Tipp were back in control with Liam Freaney pointing a free in the 61st minute to set the seal on the win.

The Tipp management will not need reminding that the tougher tests lie ahead against Limerick, as well as Kerry or Cork but their performances to date suggest that they have the quality and the spirit to cope. The players are clearly aware of what the management plan is and are delivering what is required of them. Tipp football is going through a dark period at present and the arrival of this promising set of young players is hugely encouraging.

Particularly impressive were Shane Flanagan, Cillian Ryan, and Michael Connellan in defence with Sean Lewis a key man at midfield. Louis Coughlan and Joey Quinn wee a big threat in attack while Charlie Grace also made a favourable impression when introduced.

Clare bow out of the championship knowing that they had the chances in this game to get the result they required, six third quarter wides being particularly damaging as they sought to make up the ground lost in the first period. A tendency to over-elaborate near goal did not help their cause, nor did their failure to take advantage when they had an extra man for ten minutes of the second half when the momentum was with them. Their key men were Conor Hill, Michael Kelly, Ben Skerritt, Evan Cahill, and Daire Culligan.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Ronan Myles (Ardfinnan), Cillian Ryan (Ballina), Shane Flanagan (Newport); Michael Connellan (Clonmel Commercials), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Michael O’Reilly (Moyle Rovers), Sean Lewis (Arravale Rovers); Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan), Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Louis Coughlan (Moycarkey/Borris); Joey Quinn (Loughmore/Castleiney), Ronan O’Brien (Durlas Og), Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers).

Subs: Charlie Grace (Ballina) for Ryan (41), Gavin Neville (Fethard) for Bonner (51), Cathal O’Gorman (Moyle Rovers) for O’Keeffe (57), Tadgh Whyte (Moneygall) for Quinn (60+2).

Clare: Eoin Byrne; Aaron Killeen, Conor Hill, Ronan Fitzpatrick; Aidan Weaver, Michael Kelly, Diarmuid Boyle; Evan Cahill, Ben Skerritt; Darragh Townsend, Daire Culligan, Kaden Deegan-Herlihy; Gearoid Barry, Diarmuid McMahon, Shane O’Connell.

Subs: Keith Marrinan for Skerritt (38), Keelan O’Donoghue for O’Connell (39), Daniel Brody for Barry (46).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)