Clare have beaten Tipperary in Thurles in the Munster SHC for the first time in ninety years.
Clare 1-23
Tipperary 1-21
Venue: Semple Stadium
A late rally from the Banner saw them stun Tipperary with a second half goal from Ian Galvin the turning point. Podge Collins equalised on the seventy third minute and insurance points from Peter Duggan followed to take the lead for only the second time in the game.
It keeps their qualification hopes alive ahead of a crucial game with Limerick in Cusack Park next weekend.
After a disastrous opening thirty minutes, Clare rallied late on in the first half to reduce the gap to four points. During this spell, the first touch of the forwards and handling over the field was far from what is expected of an inter-county side at any grade.
Tipperary were the first team to target Clare’s backs in the air. With the majority of them over 6ft they obviously possess an height advantage but the Banner backs struggled in this regard and their opponents gladly punished them on the scoreboard.
Peter Duggan opened the scoring from a free when John Conlon was fouled but Tipperary responded with the next five scores. This included a Billy McCarthy goal when reactions in the Clare defence proved to be some bit sluggish.
It took Clare fourteen minutes to score from play via John Conlon. Tipp again replied well with five of the next seven scores. Despite morale dropping around Semple Stadium, Clare’s finish to the half was to be admired notching four of the final five efforts. Tony Kelly’s first score on thirty two minutes lifted their spirits, he added another two minutes later with a Duggan free sandwiched between to leave four points between them.
Like their start in the opening half, Clare took their time to get going on the resumption. Jason Forde and Podge Collins swapped scores three minutes in. A long range effort from Jack Browne gave a needed rise to the Clare followers on the fortieth minute. Freetakers Forde and Duggan added two points each before John McGrath and Duggan swapped scores. Another Duggan while flag was followed by Podge Collins’ second score before Patrick Bonner Maher pounced on a Clare error to extend their lead to three points on fifty three minutes.
Clare went fourteen minutes without a score from play in the second half but it was superb finish from Ian Galvin that brought an end to this spell. At the other end Cathal Barrett handpassed to Jake Morris who was denied at the post but the Banner raced up the other end as Podge Collins set up the Clonlara attacker and in his first touch of the game brought the gap to a single point.
Seamus Callanan, John Conlon, Peter Duggan and Noel McGrath all chipped in with points as Tipp held on to their slender one point advantage. Then the crucial scores from Collins and Duggan followed to give Clare a sweet win.
The full back line of Jack Browne, Patrick O’Connor and David McInerney held firm throughout the contest while up front Shane O’Donnell and John Conlon typified the workrate that is required, on top of this the impact of Podge Collins and Ian Galvin was very significant in the success.
Clare:
1: Donal Tuohy (Crusheen)
2: Patrick O’Connor (Tubber)
3: David McInerney (Tulla)
4: Jack Browne (Ballyea)
5: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
6: Conor Cleary (St Josephs Miltown)
7: Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
8: Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
10: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin) (0-15 0-13f)
11: Tony Kelly (Ballyea) (0-2)
12: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
13: Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
14: John Conlon (Clonlara) (0-2)
15: Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
Subs:
25: Podge Collins (Cratloe) (0-3) for McGrath (35)
19: Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Fitzgerald (46)
23: Ian Galvin (Clonlara) (1-0) for Reidy (59)
18: Jason McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Malone (61)
26: Darragh Corry (Tulla) for C Galvin (63)
Tipperary
1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)
2. Seán O’Brien (Newport)
3. Séamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s Clonmel)
4. Donagh Maher (Burgess)
5. Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
6. Padraic Maher (Capt.) (Thurles Sarsfields) (0-1)
7. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)
8. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) (0-1)
9. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill) (0-1)
10. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
11. Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha) (0-1)
12. Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields) (1-0)
13. Seamus Callanan (Drom-Inch) (0-2)
14. Jason Forde (Silvermines) (0-10 0-8f, 1’65)
15. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) (0-3)
Subs:
24: Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) (0-2) for McCormack (9) (Inj)
25: Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Patrick Maher (60)
22: Alan Flynn (Kiladangan) for O’Dwyer (60)
20: Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for B Maher (67) (Inj)
26: John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) for McCarthy (73)
Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow)
