Tipp blown away in West Clare

GAA: EirGrid Munster Under-20 Football Championship Quarter-Final

Clare 3-15

Tipperary 2-4

Report: Thomas Conway in Miltown-Malbay

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Seán McNamara (Clare)

SCORERS – Clare: Brandy Rouine 0-5 (4 frees), Seán McNamara 1-2; Brian McNamara, Shane Griffin 1-1 each; Joe Rafferty (1 free), Cillian McGroary 0-2 each; Thomas Meenaghan, Fionn Kelliher 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Jamie Holloway, Cathal Deeley 1-0 each; Cian Smyth (free), Diarmuid O’Riordan, Seán Daly, Darragh Brennan, James Corcoran 0-1 each.

Having defied some expectations to reach the 2021 Munster Final, Tipperary’s 2022 under 20 football campaign was brought to a shuddering halt on Monday evening in Miltown Malbay, as Paddy Christie’s side were both overwhelmed and outplayed by a Clare outfit which might, in good time, defy some expectations of their own.

Whatever the outcome of this Munster quarter-final, the prize on offer could not have been more daunting. Nothing like a clash against Kerry to test the limits of possibility.

Tipp didn’t bow to their opponents. Clare were quite simply better - better organised, better equipped to deal with the squalid conditions. It became evident within seconds. Clare seized command and they never let go, floating the ball around the Tipp 45, recycling possession, inviting the tackle, and then unleashing the attack. Brendy Rouine gave an exhibition from frees, caressing them from the ground with effortless technique. He slotted his first in the third minute, arrowing over from the edge of the arc after centre-back Fionn Kelliher was dragged down on route through the centre.

However, all the cynical fouling in the world would not have prevented Clare from inflicting damage. They dominated possession to such an extent that at times, Tipp hardly seemed to exist - so when Jamie Holloway snatched a tenth minute goal against the run of play, the home crowd looked aghast.

The shock was short lived. Within thirty seconds, midfielder Brian McNamara had cannon-balled a shot past Shane Ryan. It lacked the finesse of a wonder goal, but it had the power and the pace of a rocket, and the keeper could do little but fling himself in the general direction of the ball and at least attempt to make contact.

Clare upped the tempo from there. They were ruthlessly effective, punishing Tipp whenever gaps emerged - Kelliher adding his first point, Joe Rafferty curling over on the right. What had been utter dominance then became complete control when, on 27 minutes, corner-forward Seán McNamara swung past two Tipp defenders and whisked a bouncing effort into the far corner. It sent The Banner ahead by 2-5 to 1-0 and placed them in a position which seemed unassailable.

Shane Griffin’s 31st minute goal extinguished all hope of a revival from the Premier County. From there on Clare rained points down, Rouine slotting the frees, while McNamara continued to dazzle with energetic bursts in from the wing.

As Clare gradually eased their foot off the pedal, the ball began to pass through Premier hands, and there were glimpses of what might have been, or what might be - in a future context. Diarmuid O’Riordan sliced over from close-range, Seán Daly landed a sky-scraping effort from distance, and Tipp started to attack with some ferocity and force. Extracting the positives from this game might prove difficult for the Tipp public, but Christie will have seen those glimpses of potential and know that he certainly has something to work with.

On another night, Cathal Deeley’s 58th minute goal would have provoked ‘oohs’ and ‘awhs’ from the crowd, but by the time the Tipp centre-forward had carved through and sent his shot spiralling spectacularly into the top corner, the stand had begun to empty.

It was a pity, because it really was a wonder-goal, but this result will leave Tipp wondering where they stand.

After the game, Paddy Christie conceded that the challenge facing Tipp last Monday was always going to be steep. West Clare in winter is wild and desolate. In summer it becomes a holiday hub, teeming with tourists and daredevil surfers. In April the place has more of a transitional feel. But there is nothing transitional about this Clare team. They are a full-blooded outfit, the real thing, and playing against a team like that is frustratingly difficult, as Christie acknowledged:

“When you’re playing against teams like Clare, teams that have a lot of work done at underage level and are very strong, you have to try to bring players back and be as defensive as you can, so as not to concede scores. And it sounds good in theory, but the problem with that is, by bringing men back, you’re losing men up front. So, if you have twelve or thirteen men back behind the ball, it’s very hard to combat a very well organised defence, like Clare had,” he said.

TEAMS – Clare: Oisin O’Loughlin (7), Eoghan Casey (7), Fergal Guinnane (7), Ciarán McMahon (7), Odhran Cunningham (7), Fionn Kelliher (8), Eoin Walsh (7), Brian McNamara (8), Eoin Rouine (7), Micheál Garry (7), Brendy Rouine (8), Shane Griffin (8), Seán McNamara (9), Thomas Meenaghan (7), Joe Rafferty (7).

Subs: Conor Meaney (6) for Rafferty (46); Cian Mahony (6) for Griffin (51); Cillian McGroary (7) for Garry (54); Joshua Moloney (6) for McMahon (54); Gavin Downes (6) for Walsh (57).

Tipperary: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials 6), Emmet Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6), Tadhg Condon (Clonmel Commercials 6), Seán O’Meara (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6), Leon Kennedy (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6), Ed Meagher (Loughmore/Castleiney 6), Seán Daly (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6), Eoin Murnane (Golden-Kilfeacle 6), Eoin Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), Cathal Deeley (St Mary’s 7), Jamie Holloway (Carrick Swan 7), Cian Smyth (Clonmel Commercials 7), Ryan Walsh (Fethard 6), Darragh Brennan (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6).

Subs: Darragh McVickers (Clonmel Og 6) for Comerford (40); Diarmuid O’Riordan (Newport 7) for Murnane (40); Matthew Power (Ballina 6) for Brennan (40); Donagh Hickey (Arravale Rovers 6) for O’Meara (40); James Corcoran (JK Brackens 7) for Kennedy (55).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).