*Alan Sweeney leads the charge for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior footballers are through to the Munster final for the third year running after overcoming Tipperary in a drab semi-final.
Clare 2-18
Tipperary 1-15
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg, Ennis
Primary objectives in qualifying for the provincial final and securing a place in the All-Ireland series have been achieved by Clare’s footballers but a big lift is required for their May 4th showdown with either Kerry or Cork.
This will mark Clare’s third provincial decider in a row. Ironically it is the first time since 1916 that Clare will have contested three Munster finals in succession and they have achieved the feat on Easter weekend.
With eight minutes of normal time remaining, Clare led by eleven points but allowed Tipperary reduce the gap almost half the deficit by the sounding of the half time whistle.
Steven O’Brien’s missed penalty on seven minutes seemed to spur Clare to life, indeed it was more of a wake-up call than anything as the hosts would have been five points down had the Ballina men struck the net. He had converted a two pointer in their previous attack.
Instead Clare worked the ball up field and had their first score of the afternoon through Aaron Griffin on nine minutes.
Eoin Cleary was on target with a free on sixteen minutes, from the kickout the break spilled to Cleary again who ended up putting Mark McInerney through and he produced a tidy finish to the net to give Clare a three point lead.
Indeed McInerney finished with 2-5 to his credit on a day when he set the standard for his side, both in terms of execution and workrate, clocking up a high tackle count particularly in the first quarter.
Following his first major, Clare tacked on points from Keelan Sexton, Emmet McMahon and Griffin to create a six point cushion with twenty two minutes played. Tipperary as they would do later in the game finished the half strong with four of the final scores including a two pointer from Darragh Brennan to leave a margin of two between the sides at the break.
Tensions rose as the sides retreated to the dressing room, a late hit on Cillian Rouine before the half time whistle may have prompted Aaron Griffin to have words with a Tipperary opponent which kickstarted a melee. Before the ball was thrown in for the second half, black cards were dished out to Alan Sweeney and Mark Stokes.
McInerney and Cian Smith traded scores as the attention returned to football. Then Clare hit a run of 1-6 without reply to rack up an eleven point lead. Again it was McInerney to strike for goal, rounding Shane Ryan after he was set up by Emmet McMahon and Manus Doherty.
Seán O’Connor pulled a goal back for Tipperary and while they had four of the final six scores, it was insufficient to put themselves back in contention and thus the Tailteann Cup awaits.
It’s job done for Clare but the task that lies ahead will be much more difficult and what was produced in the semi-final won’t come close to matching their opponents in the Munster final or claiming a much-needed scalp in the All-Ireland series. Championship debuts were handed out to Fionn Kelleher and Rory McMahon when Clare led by Mark McInerney AND Cillian Brennan took care of business.
Ikem Ugwueru missed out through injury and was a loss for Clare, injuries were also sustained by Ciaran Downes and goalkeeper Eamon Tubridy during the tie.
Scorers Clare: M McInerney (2-5 2f 1’45), E McMahon (0-4), E Cleary (0-3 1f), A Griffin (0-2), K Sexton (0-2), C Downes (0-1), D Walsh (0-1).
Scorers Tipperary: S O’Connor (1-2 1f), D Brennan (0-4 1TP), S O’Brien (0-2 1TP), P Freaney (0-2 1TP), C Smith (0-3 2f), M Freaney (0-1), M Russell (0-1).
Clare:
1: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg)
5: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
17: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
11: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
10: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
9: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
12: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Subs:
18: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Downes (44)
21: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey) for Griffin (56)
20: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg) for Cleary (63)
24: Rory McMahon (Kildysart) for Kelleher (67)
16: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckan’s) for Tubridy (70) (inj)
Tipperary:
1: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials)
2: Jason Madigan (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)
3: Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule)
4: Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers)
5: Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)
7: Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers)
6: Paudie Feehan (Killenaule)
8: Mark Russell (Aherlow)
9: Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields)
10: Micheal Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)
12: Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/Ballyneale)
25: Mikey O’Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone)
13: Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials)
14: Steven O’Brien (Ballina, Capt)
15: Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen).
Subs:
19: Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise) for Comerford (24)
20: Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale) for Boland (41)
22: Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials) for O’Shea (41)
24: Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan) for O’Brien (50) (inj)
21: Jack Nevin (JK Brackens) for Stokes (60)
Referee: Justin Molloy (Galway)
