*Sean McMahon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A far more encouraging performance from Clare still wasn’t enough to keep their Munster Under 20 Championship hopes alive after finally being forced to concede second best to Tipperary for the second time.
Tipperary 1-10
Clare 0-07
Venue: Fethard Town Park
Having both lost their opening Phase 2 ties, victory was a prerequisite for either Clare or Tipperary to bring their final chances down to the last round. In the end, Tipperary’s superior firepower deservedly prevailed but while they created close to 30 chances, it was a far from convincing home display in front of the posts.
Having decisively turned the tie in their favour with a scrambled 27th minute goal through Michael Freaney to lead by 1-5 to 0-5 by the break, not even wind assistance could put the tie to bed as there was still only a goal between the sides by the hour mark at 1-7 to 0-7.
What that statistic does mask however was the butchering of five glorious goal chances and seven second half wides that nervously left the door ajar for Clare to potentially exploit
While they kept fighting until the end, Michael Neylon’s side never looked like punish-ing their hosts and with inspirational full-back harshly carded twice by the 55th mi-nute, a 14 man Banner would eventually be caught on the counter-attack as Tipperary substitutes Daithi Hogan (2) and Paddy O’Keeffe finally secured victory in injury-time.
While Clare were a little toothless up front at times aside from Darren Keane, Conor Fennell and Tom Curran, at least they attacked the game with gusto in total contrast to their futile damage limitation exercise seven days earlier against holders Kerry in Quilty.
Indeed, Clare led three times with the aid of the conditions in the opening half and ful-ly demonstrated lessons learned from their previous tie against Tipperary too as they expertly implemented a short kick-out plan to perfection while also disrupting Tipper-ary’s previous aerial dominance too.
A 0-5 to 0-4 lead by the 26th minute didn’t flatter the Banner but they would be floored by a goal against the run of play from the restart as Joseph Lawrence found space to bear down on goal. His handpass across the square was initially flicked away from the danger zone by Conor Kearney, only for Michael Freaney to nip in at the far post to nudge the rebound to the net.
It was a major spanner in the works for Clare who despite scoring the opening point of the new half through Darren Keane, the only third quarter score in fact, the visitors failed to capitalise upon Tipperary’s frustrating profligacy.
Aaron Kelly blocked a Tommy O’Connor shot, Shane Ryan missed the target with his point blank effort while Tipperary’s talisman Orrin Jones also saw a goal disallowed for overcarrying as Clare’s goalmouth led a charmed life.
Darren Keane did cut the arrears to three by the 59th minute with a free but there would be no grandstand finish for a 14 man Banner as Tipperary’s replacement raid-ed for the last three points to finally end their neighbour’s provincial race.
That said, there’s still pride to play for as Clare still have a final round trip to Super-valu Páirc Ui Chaoimh to come next Wednesday, with any positive result opening the door for Tipperary to potentially benefit proivided that the Premier can do likewise against holders Kerry in Tralee.
Scorers for Tipperary: O Jones 0-3 (2f), M Freaney 1-0, P O’Keeffe 0-2, D Hogan 0-2 (2f), S Ryan 0-1 (f), R McGrath 0-1 (’45), D O’Brien 0-1
Scorers for Clare: D Keane 0-3 (2f), C Fennell 0-2, T Curran 0-2 (1m)
Tipperary
1: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers)
2: Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan)
3: Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore-Castleiney)
4: Mark Corcoran (Clonmel Commercials)
7: Darragh O’Brien (Aherlow)
6: Sean O’Meara (Grangemockler/Ballyneale)
5: Charlie King (Ballina)
8: Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials)
9: Eoin Doocey (Arravale Rovers)
12: Michael Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)
11: Joseph Lawrence (Rockwell Rovers)
10: Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials)
15: Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan)
22: Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)
13: Orrin Jones (Arravale Rovers)
Subs
20: Daithi Hogan (St. Patrick’s) for O’Connor (40)
23: Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers) for Higgins (43)
18: Ben Carey (Ballylooby/Castlegrace) for Charles (50)
21: Niall O’Connor (Clonmel Óg) for Lawrence (57)
17: Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers) for O’Connell (63)
Clare
1: Cian Corry (Killimer)
4: Conor Kearney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
3: Sean McAllister (Clondegad)
2: Aaron Kelly (Wolfe Tones)
7: Michael Kelly (Lissycasey)
6: Odhran Cunningham (Killimer)
5: Josh Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
8: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
9: Éanna Rouine (Ennistymon)
10: Padraic O’Dwyer (St Breckan’s)
11: Sean McMahon (Banner)
12: Darren Keane (Lissycasey)
15: Tom Curran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
14: Daire Culligan (Lissycasey)
13: Conor Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks)
Subs
17: Luke Pyne (Éire Óg) for Kelly (HT)
19: Sean Neylon (St Joseph’s Miltown) for O’Dwyer (43)
24: Colm Meaney (Clondegad) for Culligan (45)
18: Caoimhin O’Donovan (Corofin) for McMahon (50)
23: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Moloney (60, inj)
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry)
