Smyth and Kennedy goals see Clare into Munster U-20 hurling decider

Munster Under 20 hurling semi-final
Clare 3-17 – Tipperary 0-17

A dramatic Munster under-20 hurling semi-final in Semple Stadium saw Clare secure a place in the final next Monday night against Cork with a storming last quarter showing against home side Tipperary. Central to the win was (2-7) from play and frees by Keith Smyth as David Kennedy had the first-half goal.
It was honours even at the interval with Clare thankful for a David Kennedy 9th-minute goal that he got past Jason O’ Dwyer at the second attempt. For the remainder of the half it was Clare who edged ahead on a number of occasions before Tipperary scored 6 out of 7 scores to edge two clear after 25 minutes. Clare finished the stronger with three points from four the final five minutes to level (1-8) to (0-11) before the break. In the second half Tipperary threatened greatly on the Clare goal but did not score an all-important goal. Clare goals from Smyth came in the 54th minute after a high ball sent in by Daithi Lohan and a long-range free in the 65th minute. However, by that stage team manager Terence Fahy was thinking of Cork.

Clare: Aaron Shanahan (Tulla), Oisin Clune (Feakle), John Conneally (Clooney/Quin), Ian Macnamara (Killanena), Jarlath Collins (Eire-og, Inis), Daithi Lohan (Wolfe Tones) (0-1), Oran Cahill (Eire-og, Inis) (0-1), Sean Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-1), Oisin O’ Donnell (Crusheen), Jack O’ Neill (Clooney/Quin) (0-1), Patrick Crotty (Scariff) (0-3), Keith Smyth (Killanena) (2-7, 1-5f), David Kennedy (Sixmilebridge) (1-1), Senan Dunford (Tubber), Gearoid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe). Subs; Niall O’ Farrell (Broadford) (0-1) for Collins, Kealan Hartigan (Scariff) (0-1) for Dunford, Colm Cleary (O C Mills) for Sheedy, Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara) for Lohan,

Tipperary: Jason O’Dwyer (Clonouly Rossmore), Danny Slattery (Clonouty/Rossmore) (0-1), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch Drombane), Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs), Joe Caesar (Holycross Ballycahill), Conor McKelvey (Silvermines), James Morris (St Mary’s Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) (0-2), Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) (0-2), Eddie Ryan (Borrisleigh) (0-4), Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle) (0-4f), Peter McGarry (St Mary’s) (0-3), Tony Cahill (Drom & Inch), Damien Corbett (Gornahoe Glengoole). Subs: Maidhc Fitzgerald (Drom & Inch) (0-1) for Corbett, Stephen Ferncombe (Clonouty Rossmore) for Cahill, Joe Egan (Moycarkey Borris) for Ryan

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Tipperary)