*Terence Fahy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CONTESTING a second Munster U20 hurling final in three years is “a very exciting prospect”, Clare manager Terence Fahy has said.
Clare face Tipperary at 19:35 in TUS Gaelic Grounds in the provincial decider on Wednesday evening. The sides met in the third round of the championship last month where Tipperary emerged with a 3-21 0-21 victory in Sixmilebridge.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Fahy noted, “It’s a short turnaround to face Tipperary in the final but we’ll need a big improvement again. We were a long way off Tipp in the group game in Sixmilebridge a few weeks back and they are everybody’s favourites to retain the Munster Under 20 title so we’ll just have to see how we bench against that on Wednesday evening.
“Contesting the final is a very exciting prospect for us. Only two teams can win this year’s Munster Under 20 Championship and we’re one of them so we’re all really looking forward to that,” he added.
Reflecting on their one point semi-final win over Cork, the Whitegate man stated, “It has taken us a while to get over Cork in a knock-out game. They have beaten us the last three times so it was great the win down here tonight on their own home patch in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and it’s really down to the spirit in the group. That’s the only reason that we won the match.
“There were fine margins last year in the semi-final in Ennis and very little to separate the sides again this time around so in such tight margins, I’m delighted for the lads to get the win. We had to show both sides of our character this year. At times we had just had to stay in the game with some unbelievable defending and last ditch scrambling. And I suppose if you can stay in the fight, you always have a chance to land a knock-out blow in the end and that’s what happened,” he added.
Diarmuid Stritch’s goal was a turning point he acknowledged while praising the strength of their panel. “The goal was obviously pivotal as were the saves at the other end but we also got a great impact off the bench which was crucial too when bodies were getting tired to get us over the line. We have a bench that can impact and more than a bench as we’ve a strong extended panel that work ferociously hard and give everything to the cause”.
