*Aidan McCarthy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Clare powered into their first National Hurling League final in four years after brushing aside the challenge of neighbours Tipperary in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.
Clare 1-24
Tipperary 2-13
Venue: O’Moore Park, Portlaoise
Four weeks out from the start of the much-anticipated Munster Senior Championshio round robin series, the Banner received a timely baromoter of where they currently stand with a hugely impresive display to lead from start to finish.
Tipperary were favourites to book a final spot against Kilkenny as with a bye in the opening round of the provincial championship, the league decider would have been an ideal final warm-up.
However, Liam Cahill’s side were sorely second best to a sharper and more balanced Banner who laid down an early marker of the first eight points inside eleven minutes.
Mark Rodgers (3), Keith Smyth (2), Diarmuid Ryan, Darragh Lohan and David Reidy all got in on the scoring action as Clare stunned Tipperary from the outset.
Having eventually won by the same margin, that start was the perfect settler as despite an inevitable fightback from the Premier County, Clare also seemed to be able to answer. That was epitomised by Tipperary’s opening goal at the end of the opening quarter which saw Dan McCormack play a perfect ball inside for Jake Morris to take on his marker and fire to the left corner of the net at 1-9 to 1-3.
Crucially however, Clare’s response was immediate and even more emphatic as from the puck-out David Fitzgerald snatched the ball out of the sky and bore down on goal before unleashing an unstoppable bullet to the top corner of Barry Hogan’s net.
With Tipperary struggling from frees, Clare would take full advantage as Cathal Malone, Cian Galvin and substitute Aidan McCarthy put their side nine points clear by the half hour mark.
In truth, Brian Lohan’s side were lucky to avoid a second yellow for John Conlon who did hold back Jason Forde on his way to goal but it seemed fortune favoured the brave as Clare went in seven in front, with the admirable addition of having ten different scorers in contrast to just three for their opponents at 1-14 to 1-7.
With time to regroup and re-arm, Tipperary reshuffled their pack and did get the desired response when from the throw-in a Conor Bowe break through the centre pick out overlapping half-time substitute Sean Hayes to find the net.
The Premier would eventually lower the arrears to two by the 45th minute but that was as good as it got for Liam Cahill’s side who failed to sustain that intensity for the remainder.
Instead, Clare got a second wind to outscore their neighbours by 0-8 to 0-2, with freetaker McCarthy picking off four while Clare’s top scorer in the league David Fitzgerald took his tally to 1-16 from play when firing two late points.
The drama wasn’t fully finished though as Tipperary were unlucky for a goal when Alan Tynan dispossessed goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan in the left corner and centred to fellow replacement Sean Kenneally to bat just wide.
Just to add to Tipperary’s frustrations, Jake Morris was dismissed before the end after collecting a second yellow card but overall this result, while sorely disappointing now, may yet be the wake-up required ahead of their Munster campaign.
For Clare meanwhile, a first Division 1 Final against Kilkenny in 19 years awaits in a fortnight’s time, with the All-Ireland Champions Limerick coming to Ennis two weeks later for the start of yet another championship rollercoaster.
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy (0-8, 6f, 1’65); David Fitzgerald (1-3); Mark Rodgers (3f), David Reidy (0-3 each); Keith Smyth, (0-2); Diarmuid Ryan, Darragh Lohan, Adam Hogan, Cathal Malone, Cian Galvin (0-1 each)
Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde (0-6, 5f); Jake Morris (1-2); Sean Hayes (1-0); Dan McCormack, Alan Tynan, Willie Connors, Sean Kenneally, Sean Ryan (f) (0-1 each)
Clare
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
3: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4: Conor Leen (Corofin)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
7: Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
10: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
9: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
8: David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
15: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
12: Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
13: Keith Smyth (Killanena)
14: Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
11: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
Substitutions
26: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Rodgers (21, inj)
19: Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Lohan (47-54, BS)
22: Shane Meehan (Banner) for Smyth (52)
19: Morey for Conlon (55)
21: Sean Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona) for I. Galvin (62)
25: Patrick Crotty (Scariff) for Reidy (72)
Tipperary
1: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan)
2: Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonagh’s)
3: Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
5: Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill)
10: Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
6: Robert Byrne (Portroe)
4: Michael Breen (Ballina)
8: Willie Connors (Kiladangan)
9: Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields)
12: Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields)
11: Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy)
7: Conor Bowne (Moyne Templetuohy)
15: Jason Forde (Silvermines)
14: Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha)
13: Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)
Substitutions
26: Alan Tynan (Roscrea) for D. Stakelum (HT)
18: Sean Hayes (Kiladangan) for Maher (HT)
19: Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) for C. Stakelum (43)
22: Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for Bowe (54)
23: Sean Ryan (Templederry Kenyons) for O’Connor (61)
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
