HURLING: Tipp top after double sucker-punch

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 2
Tipperary 2-13 Clare 0-13

WITH the game firmly in the balance, it was Tipperary that snatched the whip hand with a devastating brace of third quarter goals to power into the last four of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship on the hallowed home soil of FBD Semple Stadium on Tuesday evening, reports Eoin Brennan.
In a typical seesaw derby which was level on four occasions in a first half that duly ended in a 0-8 to 0-8 stalemate, a goal was always going to be a huge score, not to mention two majors in the space of three minutes that turned the tie firmly on its head.
Having arguably failed to demonstrate their superiority on the scoreboard in the opening period, Clare appeared to have made amends when hitting the ground running on the resumption with points through Piaras Ó Sé and Oisin Whelan at 0-10 to 0-8.
However, a deft flick from a lineball by Paddy McCormack in the 36th minute was accentuated by a superb strike from Tom Delaney only minutes later amidst a 2-3 unanswered rally that effectively clinched top spot in the group for Tipperary and left a stunned Clare struggling to pick themselves up off the canvas.
Such wafer-thin margins are not unusual at this level as following COVID, this was the first big test for the majority of these Banner players in contrast to Tipperary who had blown off the cobwebs in Dungarvan seven days earlier.
James Hegarty, Jack O’Neill and Cian Neylon were best in a tie that promised so much and yet left Clare crestfallen by the end of the hour. With two more guaranteed matches, the Banner have the perfect opportunity for a backlash next Tuesday when hosting Waterford in O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge (7pm) where the result will only decide quarter-final positions.
That they fell away all too easily was the most concerning outcome from their Semple Stadium experience as having recovered from the concession of the first three points, Clare actually settled brilliantly to outscore their hosts by 0-6 to 0-1 by the end of the first quarter.
Jack O’Neill was prominent to tee up Frankie Lyons and Cian Neylon for points while Oisin Whelan and Michael Collins both chipped in with braces as the Banner deservedly held a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage.
Tipperary’s change of freetaker did improve the home side as Damien Corbett converted three successive points to inch his side in front by the half hour mark at 0-8 to 0-7.
However, Clare almost got the perfect half-time boost in injury-time when Jack O’Neill’s lineball from 65 metres broke perfectly for Cian Neylon to kick first time, only to see his effort clear the crossbar at 0-8 to 0-8.
A 20 minute second half barren patch proved costly for Clare who saw a two point lead descend into a seven point deficit entering the final quarter.
Goalkeeper Mark Sheedy did make a great stop to limit any further damage from McCormack before Cian Neylon (2) and substitute James Organ stopped the rot with points at the other end. However the goal they craved never came, with a Cian Neylon 20 metre that was stopped in the 52nd minute the only real sighting at goal.
Instead, the unerring Corbett kept the scoreboard ticking over for Tipperary to advance directly to the semi-finals alongside fellow group winners Cork while the four remaining sides (Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Waterford) will fight it out over the next fortnight to see who faces them at the penultimate stage on the first Tuesday in May.

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Chris O’Donnell (Ballylooby-Castlegrace), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), Jack Quinlan (Fethard); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), Tadhg Sheehan (St Mary’s), Jack O’Callaghan (Portroe); Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Cathal English (Fr. Sheedy’s), Joe Egan (Moycarkey-Borris), Paddy Phelan (Upperchurch-Drombane); Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Tom Delaney (Cahir), Damien Corbett (Gortnahoe-Glengoole)
Subs: Sam Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone) for English (41), Conor Martin (Cappawhite) for Phelan (52), Evan Morris (Holycross-Ballycahill) for O’Donnell (55, inj), Senan Butler (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Delaney (57), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara) for Daly (60)

Scorers: Damien Corbett (0-9, 6f); Paddy McCormack, Tom Delaney (1-1 each); Ciaran Foley (f), Joe Egan (0-1 each)

Clare: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); Eoghan Gunning (Broadford), Fionan Treacy (Éire Óg), John Cahill (Clooney-Quin); Fiachra Ó Braoin (Sixmilebridge), James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Riain McNamara (Cratloe); Piaras Ó Sé (Ruan), Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara); Frankie Lyons (Ruan), Jack O’Neill (Clooney-Quin), Michael Collins (Clonlara); Cian Neylon (Kilmaley), Oisin Whelan (Clarecastle), Dannan Fox (Clooney-Quin)
Subs: Dylan Keane Hayes (Kilmaley) for Lyons (40), James Organ (Corofin) for Whelan (42), Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge) for Ó Braoin (45), Eoin O’Regan (Éire Óg) for Ó Sé (49), Sam Scanlan (Clooney-Quin) for Fox (51)

Scorers: Cian Neylon (0-4, 2f); Oisin Whelan (0-3f); Michael Collins (0-2); Frankie Lyons, Jack O’Neill, Piaras Ó Sé, James Organ (0-1 each)

Referee: Nicky Barry (Waterford)