*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’S SENIOR HURLERS are now fighting for championship survival after an opening round loss to Tipperary.
Tipperary 5-22
Clare 3-23
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Though the defeat wasn’t as heavy as the 3-21 0-17 loss experienced in Cusack Park back in 2019, the wounds from this defeat, a five point loss is a very kind reflection to Clare, will leave scars that won’t easily heal especially when it is a defeat against the old enemy.
Rarely will a team that concedes five goals in championship come out on top, the manner in which the chances were presented to Tipperary to pull the trigger on each occasion was far too easy whether it be short puck outs gone awry or the ease at which they tore through the Banner defence.
Space was gifted to Tipperary to shoot at will under far too little pressure, this being very evident at stage when they put together unanswered tallies of 1-03 in the opening half on two separate occasions.
Before Clare had a chance to breath, Tipperary had registered 1-03 without reply. Jake Morris along with the McGrath brothers, Noel and Brian pointed before Jason Forde’s sideline cut went all the way to the back of Eamonn Foudy’s net.
At this juncture, Tipperary with their hosts shaking had a glorious chance to kick on but instead the Clare challenge finally ignited. They hit six points on the trot to level matters while a scuffle between captain Tony Kelly and Cathal Barrett which saw both yellow carded was a reminder that the Banner were not going to be bullied, particularly with the manner in which David McInerney lifted Barrett off his colleague.
Clare’s efforts in getting back on level terms quickly came undone. Liam Cahill’s visitors again put together a rally of 1-03 on the bounce, Jake Morris raiding for the second green flag after a short puckout from Foudy to Paul Flanagan and a subsequent recycled pass was intercepted by Morris. Alan Tynan somehow managed to be free and picked up a loose break around the 45m line to finish off this rally.
Points were then exchanged between Aidan McCarthy and Jason Forde from placed balls before Morris struck for his second goal, again profiting from a turned over puckout.
McCarthy again from a free kept Clare’s account ticking but Tipperary responded with Noel McGrath and Gearoid O’Connor efforts from play.
Excellent skill and strength from Mark Rodgers when he caught a high delivery from Tony Kelly, fended off three Tipperary opponents and planted the sliotar in the back of the net brought a much needed lift to the Clare supporters. Tipperary replied with another sideline cut from Jason Forde, this one going above the crossbar, but Clare again raided for goal with Rodgers combining with Ryan Taylor and McCarthy before converting. Further scores from Diarmuid Ryan and Aidan McCarthy left Clare four points adrift at the sounding of the half-time whistle.
With this momentum at their backs, Clare needed a strong second half start but it didn’t materialise. Instead, Jason Forde converted a penalty on forty two minutes which had the extra blow of a black card for David McInerney and again stretched the gap to six points.
Sean Ryan had an immediate impact when he took to the field in Ennis, with his first touch and less than thirty seconds after hitting the grass, he had raised a green flag, Tipperary’s fifth with sixty three minutes played.
A late consolation goal from McCarthy would put a better gloss on the scoreline, he batted the sliotar to the back of the net with seventy four minutes on the clock.
An over reliance on McCarthy for scores compared with Tipperary’s plentiful supply of shooters hurt Clare’s cause but not as much as the concession of the five goals, short puck-outs may not be the enemy in this regard but the lack of movement out the field to present options for Eamonn Foudy but the second and third goal particularly could certainly have been prevented.
Supporters among the crowd of 17,971 would be right to question why two of Clare’s better scoring forwards in Mark Rodgers and Ian Galvin were substituted when other colleagues were having less of an impact on proceedings. Rory Hayes showed some fire when introduced which is likely to see him start in the second round.
Now Brian Lohan and his management have a big task on their hands. It’s easy to circle the wagons when things are going good but picking things up when the chips are down is not handy. They have yet to come to life against quality opposition in the aftermath of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final no show against Kilkenny, Clare must rectify the many problem areas that were apparent in this first round loss in order to save their season. The rebuilding begins next weekend against All-Ireland champions Limerick.
Teams under Liam Cahill’s watch like to score goals and this was hammered home five times by the Premier County. They had a system and stuck to it, keeping faith in it the whole time. They had runners out wide and somehow had loose men in multiple scenarios with the likes of Noel McGrath seeming to have a lot of time and space when in possession. Bryan O’Mara, Gearoid O’Connor and Jason Forde impressed for Tipperary as they picked up an invaluable two points in the Munster SHC.
Scorers for Tipperary: J Forde (2-6, 1-1 sideline, 1-0 pen, 0-5 frees); J Morris (2-4); S Ryan (1-1); N McGrath (0-3); G O’Connor (0-2); C Bowe, S Kennedy, M Kehoe, B McGrath, J McGrath, A Tynan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Clare: A McCarthy (1-12, 0-7 frees, 0-2 65s); M Rodgers (2-0); R Taylor, I Galvin, S Meehan (0-2 each); D Ryan, J Conlon, T Kelly, R Mounsey (0-1 each).
Tipperary:
1: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan)
2: Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill)
4: Michael Breen (Ballina)
23: Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers)
15: Brian McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
22: Bryan O’Mara (Holycross Ballycahill)
12: Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
14: Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
26: Alan Tynan (Roscrea)
9: Seamus Kennedy (St Marys)
18: Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
20: Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy)
7: Jason Forde (Silvermines)
17: John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
19: Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)
Subs:
Clare:
1: Eamonn Foudy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
4: Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
3: Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
2: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
7: David McInerney (Tulla)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
9: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
11: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
10: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin)
14: Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
12: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
13: Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
15: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
8: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
Subs:
23: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones) for Hogan (44)
19: Shane Meehan (Banner) for Galvin (52)
20: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Rodgers (62)
25: Jack Kirwan (Parteen/Meelick) for Taylor (70) (inj)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
