A Munster Minor football campaign that began so triumphantly for Clare in Shannon a fortnight previously disappointedly ended with a whimper at the same venue on Thursday evening when overpowered by Tipperary on a score of 1-8 to 3-12
With Clare, Tipperary and Limerick all vying for the Phase 1 Final places entering the final group round, Clare’s early promise was clinically crushed by the Premier County’s 2-6 to 0-1 second quarter surge to compete a remarkable ten point turnaround by the break.
All that after Clare captain Sean McMahon set the pace with an early free followed by points for Cathal Talty and Darren Keane to carve out a 0-3 to 0-0 advantage by the 11th minute.
Indeed, it would take the visitors 14 minutes to register their first score through a Conall Grogan free. However, it was as if the floodgates opened as from the resulting kick-out, Ben Carey’s interception led to an immediate goal and from there, Tipperary only soared in confidence whereas their hosts retreated into their shells.
Clare’s best performer Cathal Talty did regain parity in the next passage of play but it would only be a temporary reprieve as by the time the Kilmurry Ibrickane poacher would convert Clare’s next point 17 minutes later, they would be eight points in arrears.
The skilful Fionn Fitzgerald accounted for 1-2 of a 1-5 unanswered purple patch highlighted by his 20th minute volleyed goal after his initial effort have been saved by goalkeeper Cian Howard on their way to a 2-6 to 0-5 interval cushion.
Despite regrouping and presenting a more fortified second half chalenge, Clare’s frustrations would only continue as an early goalbound shot from Conor Fennell was unwittingly stopped by the back of Eoin O’Connell before midfielder Tadhg Lysaght was black-carded in the 35th minute.
To their credit, Clare only conceded two points during that period of numerical disadvantage but it did mean that they were also not gaining any ground as the sides shared only five points in the first 25 minutes of the second period.
That suited Tipperary who sat comfortably on their lead before getting a boost from the bench as substitutes Oisin Shelly and Eanna Ormond tacked on late points at 2-12 to 0-8.
Typifying their luckless evening, Clare finally got a consultation goal in injury-time which Cathal Talty earned and converted from the penalty spot, only for Tipperary to cancel it out almost immediately through Daithi Hogan to send their hosts crashing out of the championship on a deflated note.
On the flip side, having brushed aside their Phase 1 rivals (Limerick, Waterford and Clare), Tipperary now have a rematch against Limerick in the Phase 1 decider next Thursday for the right to face either Cork or Kerry at the semi-final stage.
Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Ciaran Byrne (Golden/Kilfeacle), A McSherry (Clonmel Commercials), Jamie Bergin (JK Bracken’s); Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore-Castleiney), Charlie King (Ballina), Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers); Charlie English (Ballyporeen), Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Ben Carey (Ballyloobey-Castlegrace); Conall Grogan (Gatlee Rovers), Daithi Hogan (St Patrick’s), Fionn Fitzgerald (Killenaule). Subs: Darragh Landers (Clonmel Commercials) for English (46), Eanna Ormond (Golden/Kilfeacle) for O’Connor (46), Oisin Shelly (Killenaule) for Carey (49), Dylan Fogarty (Boherlahan Dualla) for Higgins (57), Alex Creed (Clonmel Commercials) for Grogan (57). Scorers: Fionn Fitzgerald (1-3, 1f); Conall Grogan (0-4, 2f, 1m); Ben Carey (1-1); Daithi Hogan (1-0); Paddy O’Keeffe, Charlie English, Oisin Shelly, Eanna Ormond (0-1 each)
Clare: Cian Howard (Éire Óg); Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Daire Hill (Lissycasey), Michael Kelly (Lissycasey); Sean McMahon (Banner) (Captain), Paddy Nagle (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Ronan Kilroy (Banner); Jake Garry (Cooraclare), Tadhg Lysaght (Kilrush Shamrocks); Mark Kelleher (Ennistymon), Darren Keane (Lissycasey), Gavin O’Shea (Doonbeg); Cathal Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Conor Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks), Darragh Killeen (Lissycasey). Subs: Niall Fitzgerald (Wolfe Tones) for Kilroy (22), Colin Riordan (Wolfe Tones) for O’Shea (38), Keelan O’Donoghue (Cratloe) for Fennell (49), Jamie Moylan (Cratloe) for Nagle (53), Paudie Considine (Ennistymon) for Garry (57). Scorers: Cathal Talty (1-5, 1-0 Pen, 3f), Sean McMahon (0-2, 1f); Darren Keane (0-1)
Referee: Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh (Kerry)