Clare pay price for wasted chances

Tipperary   1-18

Clare   0-17

CLARE’S bid to retain the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship title ended in disappointment at McDonagh Park in Nenagh on Wednesday evening when they suffered a four-point loss to the home county.

It was a game the home side just about deserved to win but Clare have reason to be disappointed with the outcome, as they had a lot of chances during the course of the evening, as the tally of 12 wides indicates.
The game’s only goal proved to be a crucial score and it should have been prevented. Clare looked to be in control but lost possession and Tipperary pounced for the goal, a minute from the half-time whistle.
The win means Tipperary have moved a step closer to winning the grand slam in the province, adding to their minor and senior successes. The U-21 final on Wednesday week will see the same counties in opposition, this time in Cusack Park, when Clare will be bidding to prevent the Premier outfit from completing that grand slam.
The home side were physically stronger and this proved vital on the evening, as they picked up a lot of breaking ball around the midfield area, where Michael Gleeson was particular influential in the second half.
Clare trailed at half-time by the goal, 0-10 to 1-10, having given away a few soft scores by conceding unnecessary frees. Clare will be disappointed to have conceded the goal, as they looked to have the situation under control. David Butler forced the error from the Clare defence and Michael Heffernan got the ball over the goal line.
In the early minutes the teams exchanged points twice before Tipperary hit four-in-a-row to lead 0-6 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.
In the opening quarter the Clare defence struggled, particularly in the flanks and a number of positional switches were made, which brought about an improvement. With Cillian Duggan strong at centre-back and midfielder Pa Sheehan picking up a lot of breaking ball, the visitors fought back and levelled at 0-7 each by the 20th minute.
Despite their best efforts, Clare failed to take the lead and were rocked by the goal. The third quarter was a low-scoring affair and Clare had to wait until the 14th minute of the half before adding to their half-time tally. By that time, the winners had stretched their lead to six points as they added three to their half-time score.
This proved to be the vital period of the tie, as Clare had the majority of possession but failed to capitalise. In fact, they hit a lot of wides, whereas Tipperary hit three great points from little possession.
An inspirational point from Cillian Duggan midway through the half inspired Clare and with five minutes to go, they had cut the lead to two points and were still very much in the contest. Indeed, with light fading a little, a draw looked a likely outcome.
Tipperary had other ideas and finished the half strongly. They stretched their lead with a couple of good scores to take the honours.
Clare went into this week’s final with a team that showed five changes in personnel and a number of positional switches from the side that beat Waterford in the semi-final.
Full-forward in the semi-final, Tony Kelly was ineligible, having been promoted to the senior side in the meantime.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Ronan Taaffe, defenders Killian Ryan and Enda Boyce and midfielder Conor Ryan lost out. Into the team came Niall Woods, Stephen O’Halloran, Jarlath Colleran, Peter Duggan and Aidan Lynch.
Team captain Ciarán O’Doherty moved from wing to corner-back and Cathal Chaplin switched from wing-forward to replace O’Doherty at wing-back. Corner-forward last time out, Cathal O’Connell was switched to lead the Clare attack, a role he filled impressively for the U-21s in their win over Waterford.
David McInerney and Cillian Duggan were best in a Clare defence that was under a lot of pressure, particularly in the first half. Pa Sheehan had a fine hour at midfield, while up front Peter Duggan and Cathal Malone worked hard throughout but the experience of the Tipperary defence won the day.
Kevin O’Gorman, Christy Coughlan and Ronan Sherlock held the upperhand in this area. Michael Gleeson was particularly prominent at midfield in the second half, while David Butler and Kieran Morris gave the Clare defence plenty of problems.

Tipperary: James Logue; Gerry Walsh, Kevin O’Gorman, Christy Coughlan; James Barry, Eddie Connolly, Ronan Sherlock; Michael Gleeson, Paudie White; Sean Carey, Joe Gallagher, Michael Heffernan; Kieran Morris, Damian O’Brien, David Butler.
Subs: Evan Sweeney for Gallagher and Ritchie Ruth for Heffernan.
Scorers: Kieran Morris (0-8), David Butler (0-4), Michael Heffernan (1-2), Damien O’Brien (0-2), Michael Gleeson and Paudie White (0-1 each).

Clare: Niall Woods (Newmarket); Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), David McInerney (Tulla), Ciarán O’Doherty (Crusheen, captain); Stephan O’Halloran (Clarecastle), Cillian Duggan (Clooney/Quin), Cathal Chaplin (Broadford); Pa Sheehan (Sixmilebridge), Jarlath Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield); Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara), Cathal Malone (Ennistymon); Fergus Kennedy (Crusheen), Aidan Lynch (Ruan), Davy O’Halloran (Éire Óg).
Subs: Niall Arthur (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Lynch (43 minutes, Conor Ryan (Cratloe) for Malone (50 minutes), Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley) for D O’Halloran (55 minutes) and Bryan Donnellan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) for Colleran (58 minutes).
Scorers: Cathal O’Connell (0-7), Pa Sheehan (0-3), Cathal Malone and Peter Duggan (0-2 each), Cillian Duggan, Fergus Kennedy and Davy O’Halloran (0-1 each).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan, Cork.