*Jamie Moylan is outnumbered by Tipperary bodies. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
TIPPERARY dished out a nine beating to Clare’s U20 hurlers issuing a setback to their hopes of reaching a Munster semi-final.
Tipperary 3-21
Clare 0-21
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Without a win in either of their two home outings in the Munster U20 hurling championship is a tough blow for Clare, while their chances of making a provincial semi-final have been hurt, they still have it all to play when they resume their campaign in two weeks time away to Limerick.
In the meantime, the fourth round of the championship will take place which will present a clearer picture of what Clare need to secure qualification but put simply they’ll need to win, the question will be by how much.
Although they raced into a two point lead with five minutes played, Clare were not the better side in this encounter played on Wednesday evening.
With the sun facing spectators standing up opposite the Tom Morey Memorial Stand in Sixmilebridge, they had a difficult job in viewing proceedings but those who had a clear view among the attendance of 2,043 cannot argue that the better side prevailed in this contest.
That it took a penalty shootout to separate these sides three years ago in the Munster minor final and now the margin has extended to nine points is a concern and one that will require closer inspection when the campaign concludes.
Tipperary’s main men stood tall, senior panellists Sam O’Farrell scored three points from wing back and even his shoulder to stop a thundering James Hegarty late on in the game was significant, winning a sideline cut and exciting Brendan Cummins to leap from the dugout to praise him.
Fellow senior panellist Darragh McCarthy was a constant threat and hit nine points over the hour with an abudance of talented stick men in their attack joining him such as Conor Martin who scored two goals, Paddy McCormack who bagged one goal and had the assist for another, Oisin O’Donoghue and David Costigan.
Cummins’ Tipperary dominated because they base their game around their main men whereas Clare’s plan is hard to decipher and it certainly didn’t maximise the influence of their leading lights Jack O’Neill and Diarmuid Stritch, both of whom caused problems when in possession, scoring five points from play but Terence Fahy’s side would be a much more difficult opponent if they based their game around their danger men.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill
While there can be doubts about Clare’s game plan, the input of S&C coach Conor Shannon is a positive one, evident by a strong finish where they upped the ante in the final quarter, cutting what was an eleven point gap down to six before they conceded a goal in the last play of the game when Conor Martin raided for his second.
With a win, a draw and a loss to their name, Clare’s future in the competition is up in the air, they met a better side on this occasion of which there is no doubt but they may be left to rue their first round draw with Cork three weeks ago.
Scorers Tipperary: D McCarthy (0-9 7f 1’65), C Martin (2-1), P McCormack (1-2), S O’Farrell (0-3), A Daly (0-2), O O’Donoghue (0-2), J Hayes (0-1).
Scorers Clare: F Hegarty (0-7 6f), J O’Neill (0-3), R Kilroy (0-2), D Stritch (0-2), J Moylan (0-2), M Collins (0-1), S Boyce (0-1), J Mescal (0-1), R Loftus (0-1), J Hegarty (0-1 1f)
Tipperary:
1: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
2: Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill)
3: Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan)
4: Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
5: Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers)
6: Jim Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill)
7: Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg)
9: Adam Daly (Knockailla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
8: Joe Egan (Moycarkey Borris)
10: Cathal English (Fr Sheehy’s)
11: Conor Martin (Cappawhite)
12: David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris)
13: Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara)
14: Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs)
15: Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
Subs:
20: Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens) for Egan (47)
17: Senan Butler (Kilsheehan Kilcash) for Daly (56)
19: Jack Hayes (Moycarkey Borris) for Costigan (58)
Clare:
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
3: Fionnán Treacy (Éire Óg)
4: John Cahill (Clooney/Quin)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
5: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
8: Joe Casey (Kilmaley)
7: Eoin McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
9: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
11: Jack O’Neill (Clooney/Quin)
10: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
15: Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara)
12: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
13: Seán Boyce (O’Callaghans Mills)
14: Fred Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
Subs:
20: James Organ (Corofin) for Casey (20)
19: Robert Loftus (Éire Óg) for O’Halloran (40)
18: Jack Mescal (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Boyce (44)
17: Tadhg Lohan (Cratloe) for Collins (51)
22: Piaras Ó Sé (Ruan) for F Hegarty (56)
Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)
