Tipp start 2020 season with a defeat
Clare 2-17
Tipperary 1-19
By Shane Brophy
Tipperary went down by a single point to Clare in the opening round of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League in Nenagh on Sunday.
The Banner county scored the last four points of the game in front of a crowd of just 830 to defeat the All Ireland champions.
Both of Clare’s goals came in the first half from Ian Galvin and Seadna Morey in the 11th & 17th minutes to keep them with Tipperary who began brightly with Jason Forde, one of just three survivors from the All Ireland winning team, leading the way eventually finishing top scorer with fourteen points, five from play.
Ronan Maher and Michael Breen were the only two other starters to feature in a game where Craig Morgan, Jamie Moloney and Paddy Cadell made their first senior appearances and did well.
Another newcomer Paul Flyn shot three points from play in the second half but Tipperary didn’t have a great spread of scorers compared to Clare with all chipping in, including the lively Diarmuid Ryan with two points before he limped off after twenty minutes with a knee injury.
Clare led 2-6 to 0-10 at half time having held Tipperary scoreless for the last fifteen minutes of the half but the home side started the second half well and a 41st minute goal from Tom Fox put them in front.
They kept their noses in front until the last five minutes as Clare finished strongly with sub Aidan McCarthy landing the winning score in the final minute of normal time.
Tipperary have little time to recover as the face Limerick in round 2 next Friday night.
Clare: Andrew Fahy (0-1f); Jason McCarthy, Jack Browne, Eoin Quirke; Cathal Malone, Kevin Hehir, Davy Fitzgerald; Seadna Morey (1-0), David Reidy, Ian Galvin (1-2), Niall Deasy (0-7, 5f), Diarmuid Ryan (0-2); Mikey O’Neill, Colin Guilfoyle, Podge Collins (0-3).
Subs: Aidan McCarthy (0-1) for Ryan (20 inj); Ryan Taylor for Galvin (47); Aaron Shanagher for Morey (50); Cathal McInerney (0-1) for O’Neill (54); Domhnall McMahon for Guilfoyle (56).
Tipperary: Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy); Joe O’Dwyer, Jamie Moloney, Craig Morgan; Alan Flynn, Ronan Maher, Robert Byrne; Michael Breen (0-1), Paddy Cadell; Mark Kehoe, Tom Fox (1-0), Jerome Cahill; Willie Connors (0-1), Jason Forde (0-14, 7f, 2 s-cuts), Paul Flynn (0-3).
Subs: Cian Darcy for Fox (52); Mark McCarthy for Cahill (59); Paul Maher (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for O’Dwyer (63); Barry Heffernan for Moloney (68 inj).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)