Tipperary 4-22 Clare 3-11
A fourteen point defeat in the week before the 2014 Allianz National hurling league gets underway will certainly have given Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald and his backroom team plenty to think about over the coming days as they finalise plans for the county’s clash with Kilkenny in Ennis next week.
Such a comprehensive defeat from Tipperary in a repeat of last year’s final wasn’t what Clare followers expected as they headed for the Gaelic grounds in Limerick on Friday evening after the match had been switched from Sixmilebridge because of the inclement weather.
Clare’s display was well below anything they had shown since last summer and the management team will certainly have plenty to ponder on as they prepare for the Kilkenny game. Particularly disappointing for Clare fans in the attendance of 1,248, was the manner in which Clare’s challenge faded when Tipperary stepped up a gear after half time.
With the exception of a period in the second quarter on Friday, Tipperary were the sharper and hungrier side and emerged as deserving winners of the title for the fourth time since the competition was inaugurated nine years ago.
This was a reverse of last year’s final played at Thurles when Clare showed the greater sharpness and hunger for victory. This time the premier side were the sharper outfit.
Clare went into Friday’s final with eight of the All-Ireland winning team in their starting line up while Tipperary had a very experimental line up with only a couple of regulars such as Shane McGrath and Seamus Callanan
Ahead by a point at half time after playing against the breeze, things looked good for Clare but Tipperary stepped up a gear on the resumption and goals from Conor Kenny and two from Denis Maher ensured victory.
When Tipperary opened a five point lead by the mid point of the first half, a surprise looked to be on the cards.
However, three Clare goals in a five minute spell from John Conlon, Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath saw the title holders take the lead and at half time, despite having played against the breeze, they held a one point advantage, 3-5 to 1-10.
Despite the difficult weather conditions, the game produced some exciting hurling with players on both sides seeking to impress management ahead of the opening round of the league next week. Outstanding for the winners were Shane McGrath, Thomas Stapleton and Conor O’Brien in the half back line while Denis Maher and Seamus Callinan also made valuable contributions on a night when Paul Flanagan and Conor McGrath, in the first half, got through some good work for Clare
Tipperary
;–Darren Gleeson; Cathal Barrett, Conor O’Mahony, Ronan Haher; Shane McGrath,Thomas Stapleton (0-1), Conor O’Brien (0-1); James Woodlock (0-2), Shane Bourke (0-1); Denis Maher (2-2), Seamus Callanan (0-9), Paddy Murphy; Kieran Morris (0-2), Conor Kenny (1-0), Michael Heffernan (1-1)
Subs
;–Johnnie O’Dwyer for Morris; Ruairi Gleeson (0-2) for Bourke; Steven O’Brien (0-1) for Kenny; Padraig Hefernan for S. McGrath
Clare
;–Patrick Kelly; Seadna Morey, Cian Dillon, Paul Flanagan; Conor Cleary, Patrick Donnellan, Patrick O’Connor; Shane Golden, Peter Duggan (0-2); John Conlon (1-1), Tony Kelly (1-2), Colin Ryan (0-3); David Reidy, Conor McGrath (1-0), Cathal O’Connell (0-3);
Subs
;–Cathal McInerney for Golden (half time); Sean Collins for Ryan (50 minutes) David McInerney for Flanagan((64 minutes)
Referee—John Sexton, Cork