CLARE’s U20 footballers have been dealt a blow but not a fatal one in their bid to progress in the Munster championship.
Tipperary 1-8
Clare 1-6
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Securing a win in Rathkeale next weekend is now the focus for Clare after they shipped a two point defeat to Tipperary on Saturday afternoon.
Pitches across the country have dealt with a severe amount of rainfall in recent weeks but Páirc Naomh Mhuire was in splendid condition for this second round tie.
Having failed to maximise the strong breeze in the opening half, Clare led by only two points at the interval which proved crucial to the final outcome.
Tipperary led by the exceptional Orrin Jones toon the lead for the first time in additional time with a 45 from goalkeeper Robbie McGrath and added another point from midfielder Joe Higgins in additional time.
By this stage only a goal would suffice for Clare but it never looked like materialising.
With only seven minutes played, Clare lost centre forward Seán Neylon to a hamstring injury, the Miltown Malbay man had been on the end of two early opportunities prior to this.
Daire Culligan opened the scoring with a free on eight minutes and it took a further ten minutes for Clare to double their lead, a Joshua Vaughan turnover from a Tipperary line ball helped to feed Sean McMahon for the first score from play.
Successive attacks saw Tipperary equalise via Orrin Jones and Michael Freaney, the visitors could have had a goal too only for Cian Corry’s ability to extend himself to deny Darragh McVicker, all three chances arriving in a three minute window.
Éanna Rouine managed to settle Clare when scoring at the other end when they worked the play forward from Corry’s kickout. Wides from Tom Curran and Darren Keane prevented them from building a bigger lead but both Keane and Curran made amends with their involvement in the final score of the half, an effort off the left boot of Daire Culligan which made it 0-4 0-2 at half-time.
It was a dream start on the resumption when corner-back Aaron Kelly even surprised himself when he put the ball perfectly beyond Tipperary goalkeeper Robbie McGrath to goal on thirty two minutes, wing-back Luke Pyne played a key role in the build-up to the major.
Jones and Keane swapped scores before Tipperary kicked two points without reply to get on level terms, Jones again making his mark along with Conall Grogan from a free.
Rouine’s second score of the afternoon helped Clare to regain the lead but they were rocked with the concession of a green flag at the other end when once again Orrin Jones stepped up and finished a powerful shot to the roof of Corry’s net. This put Tipperary one point beyond but they kicked three further points to ensure they left West Clare victorious.
Failing to score for the final quarter and not utilising the elements in the opening half cost Clare. Their approach in the first half consisted of too much cross-field moves rather than directly running at their opponents or feeding a more constant supply to their forwards.
Of the two sides, Tipperary were superior when it came to fielding the ball and in windy conditions this was an important factor as their midfield duo of Joe Higgins and Eoin Doocey helped to prevent their kickout coming under scrutiny in the opening half.
Joshua Moloney, Sean McMahon and Daire Culligan did well for Michael Neylon’s Clare as did Sean McAllister and Aaron Kelly along with Luke Pyne in defence, the Éire Óg man was unlucky to be substituted in the second half. They must now defeat Limerick next weekend in order to advance to round two of the competition.
For Tipperary, Orrin Jones was outstanding and finished with 1-4 to his name. Michael Freaney, Thomas Charles and Sean O’Meara also impressed for Niall Fitzgerald’s charges.
Scorers Tipperary: O Jones (1-4 1f), M Freney (0-1), C Grogan (0-1 1f), R McGrath (0-1 1’45), J Higgins (0-1)
Scorers Clare: A Kelly (1-0), D Culligan (0-2 1f), É Rouine (0-2), S McMahon (0-1), D Keane (0-1 1f)
Tipperary:
1: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers)
5: Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan)
3: Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney)
4: Mark Corcoran (Clonmel Commercials)
7: Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials)
24: Sean O’Meara (Grangemackler Ballyneale)
6: Charlie King (Ballina)
9: Eoin Doocey (Arravale Rovers)
8: Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials)
10: Ben Carey (Ballylooby Castelgrace)
11: Joseph Lawrence (Rockwell Rovers)
12: Michael Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
18: Conall Grogan (Galtee Rovers)
14: Orrin Jones (Arravale Rovers)
15: Darragh McVicker (Clonmel Óg)
Subs:
13: Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials) for McVicker (40)
17: Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers) for Carey (40)
20: Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s) for Lawrence (48)
23: Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers) for Grogan (57)
Clare:
1: Cian Corry (Killimer)
2: Aaron Kelly (Wolfe Tones)
3: Sean McAllister (Clondegad)
17: Conor Kearney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
5: Josh Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
6: Odhran Cunningham (Killimer)
7: Luke Pyne (Éire Óg)
8: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
9: Éanna Rouine (Ennistymon)
10: Cillian Gavin (Clondegad)
11: Sean Neylon (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Darren Keane (Lissycasey)
15: Sean McMahon (Banner)
14: Daire Culligan (Lissycasey)
13: Conor Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks)
Subs:
20: Tom Curran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Neylon (7) (inj)
22: Padraic O’Dwyer (St Breckan’s) for Fennell (HT)
21: Cathal Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Gavin (42)
24: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Pyne (55)
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)
