*Clare captain Eoghan Gunning. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE have won the Munster U20 hurling championship for the first time since 2014, defeating Tipperary following a dramatic penalty shootout.
Clare 2-24
Tipperary 2-24
(after extra time)
Clare win 4-3 on penalties
Venue: TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Goalkeeper Mark Sheedy saved three penalties and scored one himself as Clare claimed a dramatic provincial victory.
A real treat of midweek hurling was served up to the attendance of 6,442 in the Gaelic Grounds, there was plenty of excitement and while the merits of deciding such a game by means of a penalty shootout will be debated, it will serve as a memorable evening for Clare’s U20s for the rest of their days.
Silverware is no less than Terence Fahy’s side deserve this year, they have shown immense character in all their games, producing strong finishes and refusing to give in when the odds were against them.
Level after eighty minutes of hurling, penalties had to determine the winner. Sheedy’s three saves plus two dispatched penalties by Fred Hegarty, one each from James Hegarty and Sheedy ensured Clare prevailed 4-3 on the shootout.
Playing against the breeze, Clare started well and with three minutes on the clock led 0-3 0-0. Marco Cleary with a strong run, teed up Paul Rodgers for an early goal chance, his shot was blocked but the Scariff attacker reacted quickly and was composed to tap the sliotar over the bar.
Michael Collins was involved in Clare’s next two efforts, pointing one and winning a free for Fred Hegarty to convert.
Tipperary fired over four points without reply to go in front for the first time by the tenth minute, Stefan Tobin with a brace plus one each from Charlie and Robbie Ryan.
A second Hegarty free preceded by a Ronan Kilroy score had Clare back in front. The lead was 0-7 0-5 following Daniel Costelloe converting his first but then it was all Tipperary.
Six wides in a row saw Tipperary’s supporters become frustrated but it was clear that they were side controlling matters at this juncture. Throughout the second quarter, they outscored Clare 1-6 0-2 to hold a lead of 1-11 0-10 by the half-time whistle.
Jamie Ormond struck the goal on thirty minutes after Clare found themselves turned over and outnumbered in defence.
It was the dream start for the second half for Clare, Graham Ball with his first touch after replacing Ronan Keane won the ball at the throw-in, fed it inside and Marco Cleary pounced for goal with a tidy finish low to the bottom of Paddy McCormack’s net.
Big hits were beginning to make their mark, Robert Loftus made a super tackle on Stefan Tobin to lift the Clare crowd while Jamie Moylan was hooked by Patrick Ryan at the other end as each moment was beginning to grow in significance.
Fred Hegarty with efforts from a placed ball and play, linking up with Daniel Costelloe on a sideline ball followed by a Michael Collins score from long range had the sides tied by the thirty seventh minute.
Three points followed within a minute, two of which were for Clare from Kilroy and Collins to see Clare go ahead in the second half for the first time. Thomas O’Connor extended the gap after James Hegarty made an excellent tackle in defence to turn over Tipp.
Jamie Ormond reduced the deficit to one point before Stefan Tobin blitzed through the Clare defence and fired to the net for their second goal. Frees were traded by Hegarty and Cormac Fitzpatrick to keep the two point gap entering the final ten minutes.
O’Connor managed to win a penalty which Hegarty calmly dispatched and Clare were level again on fifty four minutes. The Inagh/Kilnamona student then shoved Clare ahead on fifty five minutes but an equaliser from Cormac Fitzpatrick forced extra time.
By half time in extra time, Clare were one ahead, four Hegarty scores plus one from Seán Arthur nudged them in front, Tipp with two each from Fitzpatrick and Ormond were never far behind.
Tired bodies came into play for the second period, Fred with Clare’s first but Tipperary hit back with David Costigan and Eoghan Doughan to ensure it would be decided by penalties.
Leaders were everywhere for Clare, captain Eoghan Gunning set the way from the start until he was forced off with injury and delivering an excellent speech, Robert Loftus made vital plucks from the sky, Ronan Kilroy produced a heroic block to lift the supporters while Fred Hegarty and Matthew O’Halloran made consistently excellent contributions with Mark Sheedy the hero of the evening.
Scorers for Clare: F Hegarty (1-14, 1-0 pen, 0-11 frees); M Collins (0-3); M Cleary (1-0); D Costello, R Kilroy (0-2 each); T O’Connor, P Rodgers, S Arthur (0-1 each).
Scorers for Tipperary: J Ormond (1-5); C Fitzpatrick (0-6, 0-5 frees); S Tobin (1-3); D Costigan (0-3); C Ryan, R Ryan (0-2 each); S Cleary, O O’Donoghue, E Doughan (0-1 each).
Clare:
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
3: Robert Loftus (Éire Óg)
4: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
7: Ryan Hayes (Tulla)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
5: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
8: Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea)
9: Ronan Keane (Killanena)
10: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
11: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
12: Fred Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
13: Marco Cleary (Éire Óg)
14: Thomas O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
15: Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
Subs:
17: Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Keane (HT)
18: Seán Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Rodgers (47)
22: Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) for Costelloe (58)
21: Darren Moroney (Éire Óg) for Hayes (FT)
20: Jack Mescall (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Collins (68)
23: Daire Neville (Cratloe) for Gunning (71) (inj)
19: Seán Boyce (O’Callaghans Mills) for Cleary (73)
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: Euan Murray (Thurles Sarsfields)
7: Shane Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
8: Charlie Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla)
9: Sam Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone)
10: Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan)
11: Tiernan Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill)
12: David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris)
13: Robbie Ryan (Hoycross Ballycahill)
14: Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens)
15: Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch)
Subs:
23: Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh) for T Ryan (20)
22: Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs) for Rowan (48)
18: Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall) for R Ryan (59)
17: Jake Donelan Houlihan (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Cleary (66)
Rowan for Murray (HT ET) (inj)
21: Jack Hayes (Moycarkey Borris) for C Ryan (72)
Referee: Nicky O’Toole (Waterford)
