A SECOND DEFEAT has ended Clare’s involvement in the Munster minor football championship.
Tipperary 0-12
Clare 0-8
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
By Seamus Hayes
Clare’s minor footballers travelled to Semple Stadium in the knowledge that anything other than a victory would end their involvement in this season’s Munster campaign.
Having started their challenge for honours with victory over Waterford, the concession of four goals against Limerick in Miltown in round two had left them needing a victory in Thurles to remain in the race unless Limerick lost to Waterford
By the halfway point the writing was on the wall for the Banner side as they trailed by four points having played with the aid of the wind.
Clare had their fair share of possession but they struggled to get past a well marshalled Tipperary defence. The half time score was 0-7 to 0-3 and two of Clare’s tally came from frees by the team captain Daire Cullligan.
There was much more urgency from Dermot Coughlan’s Clare on the resumption and by the three quarter stage Clare had rallied to within a point of the home side, 0-7 to 0-8. The switch of Diarmuid McMahon to the half forward line had made a big difference and led to the creation of a number of scoring opportunities .
That was as close as it got, however and Clare’s failure to close the gap further when they had the advantage of an extra man after Tipperary midfielder Sean Lewis picked up a black card proved decisive.
In the closing five minutes Tipperary landed three points to seal victory and a place in the phase 1 final where they will play Limerick who defeated Waterford on Thursday evening.
Scorers Tipperary: Liam Freaney (0-3, frees), Joey Quinn, Louis Coughlan 0-2 each, Shane Ryan, Jamie O’Keeffe, Billy Tierney (free), Ronan O’Brien, Mark Neville (0-1) each
Scorers Clare; Daire Cullligan (0-4, 2 frees), Evan Cahill, Ben Skerritt, Kevin Marrinan, Gearoid Barry (0-1) each
Tipperary;
1: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers)
2: Ronan Hughes (Ardfinnan)
3: Cillian Ryan (Ballina)
4: Shane Flanagan (Newport)
5: Michael Connellan (Clonmel Commercials)
6: Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials) Captain.
7: James O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials)
8: Michael O’Reilly (Moyle Rovers)
9: Sean Lewis (Arravale Rovers)
10: Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan)
11: Liam Freaney (Kilsheelin-Kilcash)
12: Louis Coughlan (Moycarkey-Borris)
13: Joey Quinn (Loughmore-Castleiney)
14: Ronan O’Brien (Durlas Óg)
15: Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers)
Subs:
18: Charlie Grace (Balllina) for S. Ryan (12)
20: Mark Neville for Bonner (21)
21: Cathal O’Gorman (Moyle Rovers) for O’Keeffe (58)
24: Tadhg Whyte (Moneygall) for Quinn (62)
Clare:
1: Eoin Byrne (St. Breckan’s)
2: Aaron Killeen (Lissycasey)
3: Conor Hill (Lissycasey)
4: Ronan Fitzpatrick (St.Breckan’s)
5: Aidan Weaver (Lissycasey)
6: Michael Kelly (Lissycasey)
7: Diarmuid Boyle (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
9: Ben Skerritt (Lissycasey)
10: Darragh Townsend (Cooraclare)
11: Daire Culligan (Lissycasey) (Captain)
12: Kaden Deegan-Herlihy (Banner)
13: Gearoid Barry (Ennistymon)
14: Diarmuid McMahon (Lissycasey)
15: Shane O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Subs:
18: Kevin Marrinan (Cooraclare) for Skerritt (38)
20: Keelan O’Donoghue (Cratloe) for O’Connell (39)
21: Daniel Brody (Ennistymon) for Barry (59)
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)
