Clare pipped by the Premier County in final few minutes

Tipperary 1-11   Clare 0-8

LEADING by three points with 10 minutes remaining, Clare looked to be on the way to a surprise win over favourites Tipperary in the Darl Darcy U-17 Football Cup final at Páirc na nGael in Limerick on Monday.
However, a strong finish by the Premier outfit saw them score 1-6 in the last 10 minutes to justify favouritism and take the title.
Tipperary’s superior fitness allied to their greater physical presence proved decisive in this final but Clare will be pleased with the improvement they showed throughout the competition. When the sides met in an earlier round, Tipperary were comfortable winners on a 2-15 to 2-4 scoreline.
With a number of their All-Ireland winning minor outfit available, the Premier County showed their determination to win the title from an early stage in the campaign.
Trailing by a point at half-time on Monday, the decision to introduce Philip Quirke proved vital. He was a thorn in the Clare defence throughout the second half and he contributed 1-3 to his side’s tally, the goal coming from the penalty spot four minutes from the end.
At the time the sides were level at 0-8 each and Tipperary were piling on the pressure when another substitute, TJ Ryan, was fouled in the square.
Clare opened the scoring with a Conor Cleary point but then Tipperary got the upperhand and for the next 15 minutes, they dictated matters and scored four unanswered points.
Clare had the better of matters in the second quarter when they hit four points without reply to take a one-point lead, 0-5 to 0-4, to the break.
They continued where they had left off when play resumed and points from Conor Cleary and substitute Eimhin Courtney put them three clear by the end of the third quarter.
This was still the position five minutes later after the teams had swapped points but Tipperary’s superior fitness and greater physical presence was noticeable at this stage.
As Clare tired around the midfield and half-back areas, Tipperary hit three points in as many minutes to level the game at 0-8 each before Quirke’s penalty sank Clare hopes. Tipperary continued to dominate and they hit the last three points to seal a merited win, even if the margin is a little flattering.
Cian Murray, Jamie Malone and Conor Cleary were prominent for the Clare side who will be hoping to show further progress before next season’s provincial championship campaign.
After the game, Munster Council vice-chairman, Clare’s Robert Frost, presented the Darcy Cup to the winning captain, Dylan Fitzell.

Tipperary: Ger Slattery; James Feehan, Aidan Hanley, Dylan Fitzgeald; James O’Donoghue, Dylan Fitzell (captain), Conor Hayes; Stephen O’Brien, Brian Hyland; Gregory Henry, Colm Kennedy, Tom Kirwan; Jimmy Maher, Diarmuid Devanney, Adrian Dawson.
Subs: Owen Doherty for Hayes (inj); Philip Quirke for Kennedy; TJ Ryan for Maher; Liam Casey for Henry.
Scorers: Philip Quirke (1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-3); Adrian Dawson (0-4, 1f); Tom Kirwan, TJ Ryan, Diarmuid Devanney, Liam Casey (0-1 each).

Clare: Liam Corbett (Corofin); Dean D’Auria (Éire Óg), Conor O’Brien (Doora-Barefield), Sean Corry (Éire Óg); Sean Garry (Cooraclare), Cian Murray (Kilrush), Conor McNeilis (Clondegad); Niall Pender (Kilmihil), Jamie Malone (Corofin); Eoin Cleary (Miltown), Mark Bohannon (Shannon Gaels), Barry Lynch (Lissycasey); Shane O’Leary (Cratloe), Conor Cleary (Miltown), Jason McNally (Wolfe Tones).
Subs: Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg) for Bohannon; Ciarán Vaughan (Ennistymon) for D’Auria; Bohannon for McNally; Dominick Costigan (Cratloe) for O’Leary.
Scorers: Conor Cleary (0-5, 4f); Jamie Malone, Eimhin Courtney, Eoin Cleary (0-1 each).
Referee: Eddie Walsh (Kerry).