FOOTBALL: Clare Tipp the derby scales with commanding win

Munster Under 20 Football Championship Quarter-Final
Clare 3-15 Tipperary 2-5

It’s 26 years since Clare last beat Tipperary at this grade but one would be forgiven for thinking the derby relationship was quite the opposite as the Banner eased into the Munster Under 20 Football Semi-Finals in Hennessy Memorial Park in Miltown Malbay on Monday evening, reports Eoin Brennan.
To say it was one-sided was an understatement as Clare could afford to kick 12 wides and still soar 17 points clear by the hour mark.
The powerful spine of joint-captains Fionn Kelleher and Eoin Rouine, Cooraclare duo Brian McNamara and Micheál Garry along with Brendy Rouine and the roving Sean McNamara excelled but one could easily add Shane Griffin, Eoin Walsh, Odhran Cunningham and indeed the rest of the collective such was their utter superiority throughout.
Granted, the challenge will get infinitely harder next Monday when Kerry roll into town but simply on the merits of this opener alone, it was the perfect means of brushing off the cobwebs, bolstering confidence and moving seamlessly through the gears.
Eight first half wides hampered the home side’s early progress as despite encouraging early points from Brendy Rouine and Brian McNamara, it had to take a shock Tipperary goal to ignite Clare’s challenge in earnest.
With just their first attack, Tipperary’s Jamie Holloway intercepted at halfway in the tenth minute and bore down on the Clare goal before firing to the left corner of the net at 1-0 to 0-2.
The response was immediate and emphatic as from the kick-out midfielder Brian McNamara played a one-two with club-mate Micheál Garry before roofing to the net for a rousing riposte. Clare would never looked back, eventually adding a further 2-6 without reply, half of which came in the opening period that saw Clare kick more wides than scores.
Brendy Rouine, Sean McNamara and Joe Rafferty tacked on the points before the hosts got a timely boost just before the break when Brian McNamara fielded a Tipperary kick-out and moved the ball through Thomas Meenaghan to Sean McNamara to make space and pick his spot in the far left corner of the net at 2-5 to 1-0.
Needing a reaction, Tipperary made three substitutions at the break including the withdrawal of both starting midfielders but any hopes of a fightback soon evaporated as a Shane Griffin opening minute goal was bookended by points from Rafferty, Sean McNamara and Griffin to put the result beyond any doubt at 3-8 to 1-0 by the 35th minute.
With that, both sides emptied their benches with Clare substitute Cillian McGroary doing his starting hopes no harm at all with an eye-catching brace of points to aid a 17 point cushion by the hour mark.
There was plenty of action still to come though as both sides finished with 14 men, Clare’s thanks to a worrying ankle injury for hugely influential centre-back Fionn Kelleher while Tipperary captain Tadgh Condon received a second yellow.
There would be an injury-time goal for the Premier too as Cathal Deeley unleashed a powerful effort to the roof of Oisin O’Loughlin’s net in the 62nd minute.
However, by then Clare were already plotting how to take down Kerry at the same venue in seven days time for a place in the Munster Under 20 decider.

Clare joint captain Fionn Kelliher (Doora Barefield)​ goes for a point from play. Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Clare full-forward Thomas Meenaghan (The​Banner) guides the ball over the bar for a point from play. Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Clare’s Conor Meaney​(Lissycasey) looks for support under pressure from Tipperary’s James Corcoran. Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Clare’s Tadgh Lillis (Doonbeg) looks for support under pressure from Tipperary’s Cathal Deeley in last week’s emphatic victory over the Premier County. Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Clare’s joint captain Eoin Rouine (Ennistymon)hands off the ball to teammate Sean McNamara (Ml. Cusacks). Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Clare’s Brian McNamara (Cooraclare) keeps possession under pressure from Tipperary’s Donagh Hickey. Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Tipperary captain Tadgh Condon received a red card after he collided with Clare’s Brian McNamara (Cooraclare). Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Tipperary captain Tadgh Condon received a red card after he collided with Clare’s Brian McNamara (Cooraclare). Photography by Eugene McCafferty Clare v Tipperary

Clare: Oisin O’Loughlin (St Breckan’s); Ciaran McMahon (Ennistymon), Fergal Ginnane (Kildysart), Eoghan Casey (Wolfe Tones); Odhran Cunningham (Killimer), Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) (Joint-Captain), Eoin Walsh (Banner); Brian McNamara (Cooraclare), Eoin Rouine (Ennistymon) (Joint-Captain); Micheál Garry (Cooraclare), Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon), Shane Griffin (Lissycasey); Sean McNamara (Michael Cusack’s), Thomas Meenaghan (Banner), Joe Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
Subs: Conor Meaney (Lissycasey) for Rafferty (46), Cian Mahony (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Griffin (51), Cillian McGroary (Corofin) for Garry (54), Joshua Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for McMahon (54), Gavin Downes (Kilmihil) for Walsh (57)

Scorers: Brendy Rouine (0-5, 4f); Sean McNamara (1-2); Brian McNamara, Shane Griffin (1-1 each); Joe Rafferty (1f), Cillian McGroary (0-2 each); Thomas Meenaghan, Fionn Kelleher (0-1 each)

Tipperary: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials); Emmet Butler (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Tadgh Condon (Clonmel Commercials) (Captain), Sean O’Meara (Grangemockler-Ballyneale); Leon Kennedy (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), Ed Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney), Sean Daly (Grangemockler-Ballyneale); Ben Comerford (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), Eoin Murnane (Golden Kilfeacle); Jamie Holloway (Carrick Swans), Cathal Deeley (Clonmel Commercials), Eoin Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill); Cian Smyth (Clonmel Commercials), Ryan Walsh (Fethard), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen)
Subs: Darragh McVickers (Clonmel Óg) for Craddock (HT), Diarmuid O’Riordan (Newport) for Comerford (HT), Matthew Power (Ballina) for Murnane (HT), Donagh Hickey (Arravale Rovers) for Walsh (40), James Corcoran (JK Bracken’s) for Kennedy (54)

Scorers for Tipperary: Jamie Holloway, Cathal Deeley (1-0 each); Darragh Brennan, Diarmuid O’Riordan, James Corcoran, Cian Smyth (1f) (0-1 each)

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick)