*Clare’s Ryan Hayes gathers possession.
Even Harry Houdini himself would have conceded that Clare’s U20 hurlers are the masters of escapology after saving their greatest turnaround to dramatically sink hosts Tipperary.
Clare 2-15
Tipperary 2-14
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
Last gasp recoveries against Waterford and Limerick paled in comparison to this ultimate feat as having found themselves trailing by seven points with just two minutes remaining, the Banner somehow completely flipped the script.
Goals through Daniel Costelloe and substitute Marco Cleary regained full parity as the three minutes of additional time elapsed but there would be time for one final play. When the ball broke around the centre, it was a momentum-fuelled Clare that capitalised fully on this unique opportunity as fellow replacements Darren Moroney and Jack Mescall combined to work the ball through Mattie O’Halloran to the waiting Daniel Costelloe to arrow over for what proved the last puck of the game.
It was cruel on hosts Tipperary who had led for the final 50 minutes until Marco Cleary’s wonder goal from an acute angle into the far top right corner of the home net.
The Premier had even survived the dismissal of centre-back Sam Rowan for a second yellow card entering the final ten minutes to actually extend their advantage with what seemed a clinching second goal through Tiarnan Ryan.
Even for a persistent side such as Clare, a 2-14 to 0-13 deficit seemed to be a bridge too far but in fairness the bench provided the fresh innovation to keep their foot on the pedal. Darren Moroney teed up Sean Arthur for a 58th minute point, with the same player unleashing an ambitious shot in the next passage of play that would be tipped away for a ’65.
Arthur drilled the placed ball head high towards the goals but after it was partially cleared, Daniel Costelloe was best placed to rifle the ball through a crowded goalmouth to the net at 2-14 to 1-14.
Suddenly, the tension levels were magnified but Clare’s chance seemed to have gone when Thomas O’Connor’s shot was blocked by the body of Euan Murray in the 62nd minute. However, with a 14 man Tipp starting to really panic and completely lose their shape, a more composed Clare kept the pressure on and would be spectacularly rewarded in the 63rd minute in a flowing move involving Joe Casey, Darren Moroney and Mattie O’Halloran before the ball was sprayed out to Cleary to amazingly billow the net.
In fairness, while they were the first two goals that Tipperary had conceded in the entire championship, the home side had goalkeeper Paddy McCormack to thank for two outstanding saves at either end of the tie. Amidst a flurry of early wides, Paul Rodgers picked a ball out of a huddle and unleashed a bullet that would be instinctively repelled by McCormack.
That save would be fully appreciated by the midway mark in the first half when playmaker Jamie Ormond hand passed inside to Cormac Fitzpatrick to fire to the right corner of the Clare net at 1-3 to 0-3.
It was a lead that they would cling to despite ten home side by the break as a brace of Fred Hegarty frees lessened the half-time damage to two at 1-6 to 0-7.
Clare shot out of the blocks again, this time Thomas O’Connor, Fred Hegarty and Paul Rodgers worked the ball inside for Sean Boyce to shoot, only for the advancing McCormack to charge down the shot in only the first minute.
Points through O’Connor, Hegarty and the hard-working Michael Collins did slash the arrears to just one but Clare simply couldn’t find an elusive equaliser as two effort came back off the upright while Paul Rodgers was smothered for another goal sighting.
A relieved Tipperary would wipe their brows and exploit their newfound fortune to hit the next four points through Ormond, Fitzpatrick, county senior Stefan Tobin and Charlie Ryan to soar 1-13 to 0-11 clear entering the final ten minutes.
Nothing but a Tipperary victory seemed on the cards as the final quarter played out. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way and while it wasn’t good for the heart, the manner of the result would be great for the soul as Clare remarkably maintained their perfect record.
Scorers for Clare: Fred Hegarty 0-5 (4f), Daniel Costelloe 1-2, Michael Collins 0-3, Marco Cleary 1-0, Sean Boyce 0-1, Ronan Kilroy 0-1, Thomas O’Connor 0-1, Paul Rodgers 0-1, Sean Arthur 0-1
Scorers for Tipperary: Cormac Fitzpatrick 1-6 (6f), Jamie Ormond 0-4, Tiarnan Ryan 1-0, Charlie Ryan 0-2, Shane Cleary 0-1, Stefan Tobin 0-1
Clare
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford) (Captain)
3: Robert Loftus (Éire Óg)
4: Joe Casey (Kilmaley)
7: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
6: Ryan Hayes (Tulla)
5: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
8: Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea)
9: Graham Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
10: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
11: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
12: Fred Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona)
15: Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
14: Thomas O’Connor (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
13. Sean Boyce (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
Subs
21: Darren Moroney (Éire Óg) for Gunning (46, inj)
20: Marco Cleary (Éire Óg) for Boyce (46)
22: Sean Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Hegarty (51)
17: Jack Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Ball (55)
18: Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) for Rodgers (59)
Tipperary
1: Paddy McCormack (Moneygall)
2: Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill)
3: Evan Morris (Holycross Ballycahill)
4: David Ryan (Arravale Rovers)
5: Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers)
6: Sam Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone)
7: Euan Murray (Thurles Sarsfields)
9: Shane Cleary (Kilruane MacDonagh’s)
10: Charlie Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla)
12: David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris)
8: Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill)
14: Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan)
13: Robbie Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill)
11: Jamie Ormond (JK Bracken’s)
15: Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch)
Subs
22: Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh) for Morris (46)
18: Sam Hall (Golden Kilfeacle) for C. Ryan (59)
24: Kieran Rossieter (Thurles Sarsfields) for R. Ryan (60)
Referee: Shane Scanlon (Cork)
