Tipp take another step forward in seeing off Clare

GAA: oneills.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 3

Clare0-21

Tipperary 3-21

Report: Shane Brophy at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Conor Martin (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Clare: Fred Hegarty 0-7 (6 frees); Jack O’Neill 0-3; Jamie Moylan, Ronan Kilroy, Diarmuid Stritch 0-2 each; James Hegarty (free); Michael Collins, Sean Boyce, Jack Mescall, Robert Loftus 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-9 (7 frees, 1 ’65); Conor Martin 2-1; Paddy McCormack 1-2; Sam O’Farrell 0-3; Adam Daly, Oisin O’Donoghue 0-2 each; David Costigan, Jack Hayes 0-1 each.

Tipperary produced their best performance of the campaign so far to eclipse Clare by nine points in the third round of the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship on Wednesday evening.

This was expected to be a tough test in Sixmilebridge, but Tipperary controlled the game for large parts and second half goals from Conor Martin (2) and Paddy McCormack put the tin hat on a controlled performance.

Much of the talk beforehand was whether captain Sam O’Farrell and Darragh McCarthy would line out ahead of Sunday’s Munster senior clash against Limerick with both playing the entire game, McCarthy unerring from placed balls while Sam O’Farrell was impressive from wing back scoring three points.

The opening exchanges were closely contested with the sides sharing the first ten points but Tipp were on the front foot, with the half back line dominant, and Oisin O’Donoghue having the best goal chance but was denied by Clare keeper Mark Sheedy.

Tipp made their move in the second quarter with seniors O’Donoghue and O’Farrell pointing the way from the wing with Paddy McCormack’s first point opening a three point lead on 24 minutes.

Clare cut the gap to one but crucial points from McCormack and Conor Martin gave Tipp a deserved 0-12 to 0-9 half time lead.

Clare senior Jack O’Neill and counterpart O’Farrell traded early second half points from play before Tipp scored their first goal on 35 minutes with McCormack playing Conor Martin in through the middle and he finished well. There was almost a second goal straight from the puckout as McCormack intercepted a Clare restart but was impeded in the process of shooting with the ball going wide but no free was awarded.

It didn’t matter as Tipp tightened the noose with Jim Ryan and Adam Ryan to the fore in the half-back line and on 45 minutes, took complete control with a second goal with Martin’s long delivery into the square beautifully brought down with the hurley by Paddy McCormack whose shot beat Mark Sheedy at his near post to open a 2-16 to 0-12 lead.

Tipperary kept the scoreboard ticking over from there with O’Donoghue, O’Farrell, Darragh McCarthy’s sole point from play and sub Jack Hayes. Tipp sat off a little as Clare cut into the deficit and were within six deep in added time when Conor Martin, another senior panelist, scored a carbon copy of his goal to complete a man of the match performance and seal a crucial win in their quest to finish in the top three and progress to the knockout stage.

TEAMS – Clare: Mark Sheedy (6); Eoghan Gunning (6), Fionan Treacy (7), John Cahill (7); Jamie Moylan (7), James Hegarty (6), Eoin McMahon (6); Joe Casey (6), Matthew O’Halloran (6); Ronan Kilroy (7), Jack O’Neill (7), Michael Collins (7); Sean Boyce (6), Fred Hegarty (6), Diarmuid Stritch (7).

Subs: James Organ (6) for Casey (38); Robert Loftus (7) for O’Halloran (40); Jack Mescall (7) for Boyce (44); Tadhg Lohan (6) for Collins (52); Piaras O Se for F Hegarty (56).

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 8); Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill 8), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan 8), Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule 7); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers 8), Jim Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill 8), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg, Capt 9); Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris 8), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 8); Cathal English (Father Sheehy’s 8), Conor Martin (Cappawhite 9), David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris 7); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara 7), Oisín O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs 7), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh 9).

Subs: Jamie Ormond for Egan (7-8 blood); Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens 6) for J Ryan (48 inj); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6) for Daly (56); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris 7) for Costigan (59);

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick).