Four-goal concession proves costly for Clare

Tipperary  4-19

Clare  1-19

RANK outsiders ahead of the game, Clare gave All-Ireland champions Tipperary plenty of problems before going down to a nine-point defeat in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at Páirc na nGael in Limerick on Sunday.

While there was much to be pleased with in Clare’s performance, the concession of four goals cost them dearly. The defence was hit for three goals in a five-minute spell midway through the first half, which turned the tie in the Premier County’s favour.
Clare had a dream start with a goal from one of the stars of the game, Conor McGrath, inside the opening minute. They quickly added three points to lead by six after as many minutes. A further four minutes elapsed before the winners had their first score.
Despite this magnificent start, Clare showed a lack of experience at this level and it was to prove so costly midway through the half. With the score at 1-5 to 0-2 in the Banner side’s favour, the outstanding Padraic Maher sent a huge delivery towards the Clare goal. As Cian Dillon and John O’Brien prepared to challenge for possession on the 13m line, Philip Brennan moved off his goal line and contested with them. The ball broke behind and the in-rushing Tipperary captain Eoin Kelly first-timed it to the net .The Tulla man must accept responsibility for this score as he should have remaned on his line.
Clare had scarcely recovered from this blow when Patrick Maher availed of some indecision in the Clare defence and raced through to fire a low shot past Brennan from close range. The winners struck another blow two minutes later and again, the Clare defence contributed hugely. Patrick O’Connor and Pat Vaughan challenged for possession with Patrick Maher and when the ball broke, the unmarked Lar Corbett raced past and from 20m fired home goal number three.
These three killer blows turned the tie and while Clare did continue to make some inroads, the Premier side’s experience proved too much. After such a superb start, Clare were now two points in arrears and while they managed to draw level with 10 minutes still to play in the half, the advantage had now swung to Tipperary.
The game started at a tremendous pace and the underdogs got the dream start when debutant Conor McGrath grabbed possession from a low Jonathon Clancy delivery, turned from his marker and raced goalwards before giving Brendan Cummins no chance with a powerful strike for a goal worthy of any major occasion. Diarmuid McMahon, McGrath and Fergal Lynch followed with points leading to Tipperary making switches in defence which saw Michael Cahill switch across on McGrath. Clare should have scored a goal just before half-time but Brendan Cummins managed to stop Cathal McInerney’s effort.
The right flank of the Tipperary defence was in all sorts of trouble in the opening half from Diarmuid McMahon and McGrath and it resulted in both David Young and John O’Keeffe being replaced at half-time by Paddy Stapleton and Stephen Lillis.
Eight minutes into the new half, Clare were fortunate not to concede another goal. Noel McGrath broke through and despite the efforts of Cian Dillon, he booted the ball past Philip Brennan only for referee James Owens to call play back and award a penalty. Eoin Kelly’s effort rebounded off the crossbar before Clare cleared their lines.
A period of Tipperary dominance followed during which they scored six unanswered points to go eight clear at the three-quarter stage. Clare introduced Cormac O’Donovan for Nicky O’Connell at this stage but, surprisingly, they didn’t make any further changes until two minutes from the end of normal time. It was obvious that a couple of players were tiring at this stage of the game and changes were required.
Two points each from McGrath and Jonathon Clancy helped Clare to cut Tipperary’s lead to five points with 10 minutes remaining. However, with Padraic Maher dominant in the winner’s half-back line, Clare struggled to create scoring chances.
In the final minute of normal time and with the gap still at five points, Clare were awarded a 20m free and James McInerney was handed the task of trying for goal. His rasping effort went over the bar and with it Clare’s final chance of causing a shock. From the puck-out, Tipperary launched an attack, which led to their fourth goal. Slack marking left Lar Corbett free in front of goal. His shot for goal beat the advancing Brennan but rebounded off the upright and across the face of the goal to another unmarked player, Seamus Callinan, whose first-time effort beat Brennan.
It gave the favourites a rather flattering nine-point winning margin.
While there were some costly defensive lapses by Clare, Conor Cooney and Cian Dillon did well on the day. Nicky O’Connell, in the first half, and Jonathon Clancy had their moments at midfield but Shane McGrath got through a lot of work for the winners. Up front, Conor McGrath was excellent, Diarmuid McMahon had a superb first half, while John Conlon got through a lot of work in the second half.
Padraic Maher, Paul Curran, Shane McGrath, Seamus Callinan and Noel McGrath were Tipperary’s leading players on the day.

Tipperary: Brendan Cummins; John O’Keeffe, Paul Curran, Michael Cahill; David Young, Conor O’Mahony, Padraic Maher; Gearóid Ryan, Shane McGrath; Seamus Callinan, Noel McGrath, Patrick Maher; Eoin Kelly, John O’Brien, Lar Corbett.
Subs: Paddy Stapleton for O’Keeffe (half-time), Stephen Lillis for Young (half-time); Pa Burke for O’Brien (46 minutes), James Woodlock for Ryan (62 minutes), John Coughlan for Curran (inj 70 minutes).
Scorers: Seamus Callinan (1-5), Eoin Kelly (1-3, 0-2f), Patrick Maher, Lar Corbett (1-0 each); Noel McGrath (0-3), Pa Burke, Shane McGrath, Padraic Maher, Gearóid Ryan (0-2 each).
Frees for: 7; wides: 13.
Bookings: David Young (23 minutes); Eoin Kelly (28 minutes).
Clare: Philip Brennan; Pat Vaughan, Cian Dillon, Conor Cooney; Patrick O’Connor, Pat Donnellan, James McInerney; Nicky O’Connell, Jonathon Clancy; John Conlon, Fergal Lynch, Diarmuid McMahon; Cathal McInerney, Darach Honan, Conor McGrath.
Subs: Cormac O’Donovan for O’Connell (54 minutes), Colin Ryan for Honan (68 minutes), Caimin Morey for McMahon (72 minutes).
Scorers: Conor McGrath (1-6, 0-4f); John Conlon (0-3), Cathal McInerney, Diarmuid McMahon, Jonathon Clancy (0-2 each), James McInerney (free), Nicky O’Connell, Fergal Lynch, Darach Honan (0-1 each).
Frees for: 8; wides: 6.
Bookings: Pat Vaughan (9 minutes); Fergal Lynch (32 minutes), James McInerney (41 minutes).
Referee: James Owens, Wexford.