Tipp beat Clare in inaugural U17 Football Championship
GAA: Munster Under 17 Football Championship Quarter Final
Tipperary 0-14
Clare 0-10
By Michael Dundon at Semple Stadium, Thurles
A quality first half performance paved the way for Tipperary’s deserved but hard-earned win over Clare in the inaugural Munster Under 17 Football Championship last Tuesday week, a victory which gives them a semi-final post against Kerry in Tralee next month.
Tipperary were energetic and creative in that opening period as they delivered a performance that pleased manager Matt Doherty, who later said: “Everything went right for us in the first half.”
And so it did. The Tipp boys turned on the style with an attacking display that excelled with very few blips, but defensively they were also very impressive forcing a series of turn-overs through weight of numbers, sheer hard work, and quality tackling when Clare had possession.
With the fresh breeze aiding them, Tipperary were quickly into their stride, Ian Holloway pointing after only 25 seconds. This was a clear indication of how purposeful the Tipp lads were and Rian Quigley added another in the fourth minute after a very patient build-up.
Clare’s first point came from Morgan Garry in the tenth minute but with Darragh Tynan showing his class, Tipperary began to turn the screw. The Inane Rovers lad pointed twice in the 11th & 12th minutes and after Cian O'Sullivan was on target a minute later, Tynan added two further points for a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after 19 minutes, a highly productive eight minute spell which yielded five points without reply, and which really tipped the scales in Tipp’s favour.
Seamus Casey pointed a Clare free in the 25th minute but Conor Ryan rounded off a great first half showing by Tipp with a 29th minute point for an interval lead of 0-8 to 0-2, leaving the home side in a very strong position at the break.
With the breeze behind them in the second half, a Clare onslaught was expected but crucially the early exchanges again went Tipperary’s way Conor Ryan and Adam McGrath extending their lead to eight points after 38 minutes.
The Clare surge did come, led by centre back David McNamara who kept driving forward. His great point in the 39th minute kick-started the Clare rally. Manus McFadden countered for Tipperary three minutes later but two Seamus Casey points left Clare six adrift entering the last quarter.
Questions were being asked of the Tipp lads as tired legs began to take their toll. Rian Quigley’s pointed free in the 47th minute after Clare’s Morgan Garry was black carded, gave brief relief but then Clare hit three points in five minutes to leave only four between the sides with seven minutes plus injury time to come.
A smashing Rian Quigley point in the 54th minute kept Tipp going but once more Clare piled on the pressure, sub Sean Conway kicking two great points from long-range frees to leave only three in it with a minute of actual time to play.
With five minutes injury time indicated, Tipperary had to dig deep in the tense closing minutes to retain their scoring advantage. Management emptied the bench to stunt the Clare momentum and introduce fresh legs. Despite tiredness they closed off the Clare avenues to goal and in the 62nd minute Rian Quigley kicked a difficult free for the insurance point that sealed the win for the Premier County.
Manager Matt Doherty was delighted afterwards but acknowledged how difficult a win it had been.
“Everything went right for us in the first half but once they got on top around midfield in the second half we were under pressure. We were happy to come out of it ahead at the finish”, he said.
Kerry will be a major challenge in a few weeks time but the form showed by such as Darragh Tynan, Rian Quigley, Eanna McBride, Mark Stokes, Conor Ryan, Dara O'Leary and Manus McFadden gives every reason for optimism in the Tipperary camp.
Clare left it too late to mount their challenge but in David McNamara, Seamus Casey, Gearoid O'Grady, Michael Murray (until injured) and Gerard Collins they had players who showed leadership when it was most needed.
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Darragh Tynan (Tipperary)
Scorers – Tipperary: Darragh Tynan (1 free); Rian Quigley (2 frees) 0-4 each; Conor Ryan 0-2; Manus McFadden, Adam McGrath, Ian Holloway, Cian O'Sullivan 0-1 each.
Clare: Seamus Casey 0-3 (2 frees); Sean Conway (2 frees), David McNamara 0-2 each; Morgan Garry, Cian Meaney, Philip Talty 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Cian Quinn (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6); Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 7), Dara O'Leary (Ardfinnan 6), Diarmuid Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers 6); John Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla 6), Paul Devlin (Eire Og Annacarty 6), Eanna McBride (JK Brackens 7); Stephen Grogan (Cahir 6), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 7); Conor Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney 7), Rian Quigley (Moyle Rovers 8), Ian Holloway (Carrick Swans 6); Adam McGrath (Galtee Rovers 6), Cian O'Sullivan (Clonmel Og 7), Darragh Tynan (Inane Rovers 9).
Subs: Michael Egan (JK Brackens 6) for Ryan (45); Sean Murphy (Cahir 6) for Holloway (48); Kevin Bracken (Thurles Sarsfields NR) for Stokes (59); Aidan Keane (Carrick Swans NR) for Tynan (60+1); Sean McAdam (Kilruane MacDonaghs NR) for O'Sullivan (60+3).
Clare: Tom O'Brien (6); Gerard Collins (6), Oisin O'Looney (6), Euan Reid (7); Darren O'Brien (6), David McNamara (8), Sean O'Brien (6); Thomas Clancy (6), Michael Murray (7); Daniel Walshe (6), Seamus Casey (7), Cian Meaney (6); Morgan Garry (6), Eoghan Thynne (6), Gearoid O'Grady (7).
Subs: John Murphy (6) for Murray (39); Sean Conway (7) for Walshe (42); Philip Talty (6) for Garry (47 BC); Eoin Petty (6) for D O'Brien (52); Diarmuid O'Connell (NR) for Casey (56).
Referee: Donncha O'Callaghan (Limerick)