A SECOND DEFEAT has ended Clareโs involvement in the Munster minor football championship.
Tipperary 0-12
Clare 0-8
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
By Seamus Hayes
Clareโs minor footballers travelled to Semple Stadium in the knowledge that anything other than a victory would end their involvement in this seasonโs Munster campaign.
Having started their challenge for honours with victory over Waterford, the concession of four goals against Limerick in Miltown in round two had left them needing a victory in Thurles to remain in the race unless Limerick lost to Waterford
By the halfway point the writing was on the wall for the Banner side as they trailed by four points having played with the aid of the wind.
Clare had their fair share of possession but they struggled to get past a well marshalled Tipperary defence. The half time score was 0-7 to 0-3 and two of Clareโs tally came from frees by the team captain Daire Cullligan.
There was much more urgency from Dermot Coughlanโs Clare on the resumption and by the three quarter stage Clare had rallied to within a point of the home side, 0-7 to 0-8. The switch of Diarmuid McMahon to the half forward line had made a big difference and led to the creation of a number of scoring opportunities .
That was as close as it got, however and Clareโs failure to close the gap further when they had the advantage of an extra man after Tipperary midfielder Sean Lewis picked up a black card proved decisive.
In the closing five minutes Tipperary landed three points to seal victory and a place in the phase 1 final where they will play Limerick who defeated Waterford on Thursday evening.
Scorers Tipperary: Liam Freaney (0-3, frees), Joey Quinn, Louis Coughlan 0-2 each, Shane Ryan, Jamie OโKeeffe, Billy Tierney (free), Ronan OโBrien, Mark Neville (0-1) each
Scorers Clare; Daire Cullligan (0-4, 2 frees), Evan Cahill, Ben Skerritt, Kevin Marrinan, Gearoid Barry (0-1) each
Tipperary;
1: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers)
2: Ronan Hughes (Ardfinnan)
3: Cillian Ryan (Ballina)
4: Shane Flanagan (Newport)
5: Michael Connellan (Clonmel Commercials)
6: Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials) Captain.
7: James OโKeeffe (Clonmel Commercials)
8: Michael OโReilly (Moyle Rovers)
9: Sean Lewis (Arravale Rovers)
10: Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan)
11: Liam Freaney (Kilsheelin-Kilcash)
12: Louis Coughlan (Moycarkey-Borris)
13: Joey Quinn (Loughmore-Castleiney)
14: Ronan OโBrien (Durlas รg)
15: Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers)
Subs:
18: Charlie Grace (Balllina) for S. Ryan (12)
20: Mark Neville for Bonner (21)
21: Cathal OโGorman (Moyle Rovers) for OโKeeffe (58)
24: Tadhg Whyte (Moneygall) for Quinn (62)
Clare:
1: Eoin Byrne (St. Breckan’s)
2: Aaron Killeen (Lissycasey)
3: Conor Hill (Lissycasey)
4: Ronan Fitzpatrick (St.Breckan’s)
5: Aidan Weaver (Lissycasey)
6: Michael Kelly (Lissycasey)
7: Diarmuid Boyle (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
9: Ben Skerritt (Lissycasey)
10: Darragh Townsend (Cooraclare)
11: Daire Culligan (Lissycasey) (Captain)
12: Kaden Deegan-Herlihy (Banner)
13: Gearoid Barry (Ennistymon)
14: Diarmuid McMahon (Lissycasey)
15: Shane O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Subs:
18: Kevin Marrinan (Cooraclare) for Skerritt (38)
20: Keelan OโDonoghue (Cratloe) for OโConnell (39)
21: Daniel Brody (Ennistymon) for Barry (59)
Referee: Donnacha OโCallaghan (Limerick)