*John Barry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE LEFT it late but better late than never as a dramatic seven points turnaround snatched their opening points of the Munster minor hurling championship in their first outing.
Clare 1-17
Tipperary 2-12
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg
With Tipperary having also been overturned in similarly late fashion against Waterford on home soil eight days earlier, the Banner’s buoyant finish not only exacted full revenge for last year’s provincial final reverse to their neighbours but also left the All-Ireland champions’ hopes of retaining their provincial crown hanging by a mere thread.
Without influential pair Dara Kennedy (injury) and Paul Rodgers (suspension), Clare did appear nervy for long periods, perhaps inevitable for their first foray into the heat of championship action. Crucially however, despite conceding flooring goals in either half, they persisted and would be rewarded with a 55th minute equalising goal for Evan Cleary that provided the inspiration to push on for victory.
In essence, it was John Barry’s outstanding 14 point haul that was central to this triumphant competitive bow for Ger O’Connell and his side as the Inagh/Kilnamona marksman was metronomic with his free-taking regardless of the narrative around him.
Indeed, many sides, particularly at this age group, might have lowered their heads when conceding a soft second goal at the two-thirds mark as a defensive error presented Chris Dunne with a gift to power Tipperary five clear at 2-09 to 0-10.
Barry’s response was to pick off the next two scores to lessen the arrears to just three, the perfect margin to be fully reeled in when excellent captain Graham Ball and substitute Liam Murphy combined to tee up Cleary for the levelling goal with just five minutes of normal time remaining at 2-11 to 1-14.
A motivated Banner won the next two puck-outs for Jack O’Halloran and Ball to earn frees for Barry to arrow over. So while Paul Cummins did just clear the crossbar at the other end entering the final minute, inevitably it was Barry that clinched all the points when converting a free from the left corner in the final of four additional minutes.
It took character too to answer an early set-back as a failure to clear their lines in only the fourth minute saw Tommy O’Meara nip in for a goal to power Tipperary 1-2 to 0-1 in front.
Clare settled with the next five points, four from the guiding stick of Barry including a brace of beauties from play to inch the hosts 0-6 to 1-2 clear by the midway mark of the opening half.
Needing to exploit their wind advantage, Jack Cahill’s cheeky one-two from a 20 metre free saw a goal bound shot blocked by the body of Evan Crimmins. However, Tipperary were left off the hook with the last three points as lively substitute Jaye Cilvinas, Cahill and Chris Dunne provided a 1-8 to 0-8 interval advantage for the holders.
Barry set about wiping out the deficit with the aid of the wind for the new half but a shot at goal was superbly tipped away by goalkeeper Patrick McCormack in the 37th minute. Tipperary’s response was to go for the jugular themselves but Tommy O’meara was snuffed out by the Clare rearguard.
The tide would turn only four minutes later when a short puck-out malfunctioned for Dunne to take full advantage and rattle the Clare net at 2-09 to 0-10. Crucially however, the home side never reached for the panic button at any stage and would play their way back into the ascendency to outscore the visitors by 1-5 to 0-3 for the remainder.
With centre-back Kennedy and attacking threat Rodgers set to return, Clare now turn their attentions to Cork next Saturday in Dr Daly Park, Tulla (2pm), backed by impressive displays from hardworking captain Graham Ball, match-winner John Barry, Evan Cleary, Niall Doyle, Ian O’Brien and a positive impact from the bench.
Scorers for Clare: John Barry 0-14 (12f); Evan Cleary 1-0; Zak Phelan, Gavin Marshall, Graham Ball 0-1 each
Scorers for Tipperary: Chris Dunne 1-3; Jack Cahill 0-3 (3f); Tommy O’Meara 1-0; Jaye Cilvinas, Conall Morrisson 0-2 each; Dylan Hennessy, Paul Cummins 0-1 each
Clare
1: Leon Talty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
4: Cormac Gunning (Broadford)
2: Darragh Murrihy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
3: Niall Doyle (Éire Óg)
17: Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge)
5: Evan Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
7: Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
8: Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) (Captain)
9: Evan Cleary (Ballyea)
10: Gavin Marshall (Parteen/Meelick)
11: John Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona)
12: Ian O’Brien (Cratloe)
13: James O’Donnell (Broadford)
14: Donncha Mahon (Clooney/Quin)
15: Ben Talty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
Subs
23: Liam Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills) for Mahon (38)
19: Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Marshall (46)
21: Rory Ralph (Clarecastle) for B. Talty (46)
20: Jason Keane Hayes (Kilmaley) for Ball (60)
24: Dara McInerney (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for O’Brien (64)
Tipperary
1: Patrick McCormack (Moneygall)
2: Fred Perry (Moyle Rovers)
3: Kevin Fitzpatrick (Newport)
4: Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers St Pecaun’s)
5: Dylan Hennessy (CJ Kickhams/Mullinahone)
6: Patrick Hackett (Toomevara)
7: Shane Cooney (Clerihan)
8: Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Óg)
9: Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore)
15: Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers)
13: Jack Cahill (Ballingarry)
12: Paul Cummins (Ballybacon Grange)
11: Euan Murray (Durlas Óg)
14: Tommy O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
10: Chris Dunne (Gortahoe Glengoole)
Subs
17: Jaye Cilvinas (Arravale Rovers) for Rossiter (23, inj)
23: Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch Drombone) for Cahill (48)
24: Padraic O’Shea (JK Brackens) for Kennedy (48)
18: Darragh Doyle (Killenaule) for Cummins (59)
20: Senan Mackey (Knockavilla Kickhams) for O’Meara (59)
Referee: Seaghan Walsh (Waterford)
