*Clare captain Ronan O’Connor. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
AN INJURY time point from Conor Whelan has secured Clare’s U20 hurlers a home Munster semi-final.
Clare 0-18
Tipperary 1-14
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
By Noel Dundon
Needing to win by six points or more to advance directly to the Munster final, Clare managed to record a one point victory in Thurles in an enteraining contest to set up a home semi-final with Cork next Friday in Cusack Park.
Clare had to dig deep to secure the victory after Tipperary had come from behind the level and then go in front, but Whelan was the star of the show and his winner deep into injury time was the difference.
It was a perfect evening for hurling with the pitch in splendid condition and brilliant sunshine greeting the visitors as they made their way across the border for a game which would decide who would qualify for the provincial decider.
It turned out to be the Conor Whelan show in the first half from a Clare perspective as the corner forward showed a clean pair of heels to the Tipperary defence time and again. He ended up with 0-10 of the Clare tally of 0-11 with five of those coming from play. Without doubt Whelan was the standout player of the half and Tipperary tried a number of suitors to mark him, without any great success.
Mind you, the hosts had started very well in the game and were 0-4 to 0-1 in front after eight minutes with points from Darragh McCarthy (2), Oisin O’Donoghue and Paddy McCormack setting them off to a flier.
But, Clare responded and they were to hit 0-10 to Tipperary’s 0-3 for the remainder of the half as the pendulum swung in favour of the Bannermen who played with a strong breeze in the half.
Whelan was the ace marksman for Clare but Niall O’Farrell also chipped in with a score while Tipperary had points from Conor Martin, and a brace from Paddy McCormack who was then forced off having picked up a hand injury – a big loss to the Premier attacking division.
Tipperary were hoping that the breeze would aid their cause in the second half, but they were playing second fiddle to Clare all over the field with the visitors showing a much more direct and energetic approach to the game.
Tipperary received a real shot in the arm four minutes after resumption when Oisin O’Donoghue goalled to bring them right back into the play. They were back on terms by the end of the third quarter with a huge free from goalkeeper Eoin Horgan and they hit the front through Darragh McCarthy a few minutes later.
The game looked to be moving beyond Clare at this juncture but they dug deep, hung in there and they were to hit four of the last five scores of the game to secure the win – all coming from the stick of Whelan.
get twenty players on the field tonight as well, so that should stand to us,” he said.
Scorers Clare: Conor Whelan 0-16 (0-10 frees); Niall O’Farrell, Ronan Keane 0-1 each.
Scorers Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-6 (all frees); Oisin O’Donoghue 1-1, Paddy McCormack 0-3, Senan Butler, Sam O’Farrell, Eoin Horgan, Conor Martin 0-1 each.
Teams:
Clare:
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
3: Ronan Keane (Killanena)
4: John Cahill (Clooney Quinn)
5: Evan Maxted (Clooney Quinn)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona)
7: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
8: Ronan O’Connor (Feakle)
9: Sean Rynne (Inagh Kilnamona)
10: James Organ (Corofin)
11: Niall O’Farrell (Broadford)
12: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
13: Conor Whelan (Whitehead)
14: Jack O’Neill Clooney Quinn)
15: Michael Collins (Clonlara).
Subs:
Senan Dunford (An Tobar) for Kilroy;
Eoin McMahon (St Jospeh’s Doora Barefield) for Maxted;
Diarmuid Stritch ( Clonlara) for Ronan Keane;
Liam Crotty (Scarrif) for Michael Collins;
James Doherty (Clarecastle) for Organ.
Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams), Chris O’Donnell (Ballylooby Castlegrace), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swans), Podge O’Dwyer (KIllenaule), Ronan Connolly (Cashel), Ben Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle), Jack Collins (Ballina), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh), Adam Daly Knockavilla Kickhams), Cathal English (Fr Sheehy’s), Conor Martin(Cappawhite), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Paddy McCormack (Borrisoleigh), Senan Butler Kilsheelan Kilcash). Subs: Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill) for McCormack; Mason Cawley (Nenagh) for Connolly; Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane) for Adam Daly.
Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)
