Fitzgerald critical of format as U20 season ends after one game

GAA: Eirgrid Munster Under 20 Football Championship Quarter Final

Tipperary 0-11

Clare 1-11

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Daithi Hogan (St Patrick’s)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Cian Smith 0-5 (4 frees); Niall O’Connor 0-2; Joe Lawrence, Daithi Hogan (free), Rory Collins, Darragh McVicker 0-1 each.

Clare: Mikey Kelleher 1-2; Thomas Collins (3 frees), Tom Curran (1 free) 0-3 each; Brendy Rouine 0-2; Sean McMahon 0-1.

After seeing his charges lose narrowly to Clare in the Munster Under 20 Football Championship quarter final on Monday evening, Tipperary manager Niall Fitzgerald pulled no punches in his criticism of the championship structure for the grade which sees their campaign ended after just one game.

Pointing to the hurling championship in the grade in Munster having a round-robin system and that a similar situation operates in Leinster under 20, Fitzgerald blasted: “It is a disgrace, and it will only change if the people who make the decisions start caring about the development of football in Munster. We just want to develop football in Tipperary.”

The manager was justifiably disappointed at the outcome after his team had recovered from conceding a second minute goal to match their rivals all the way but three goal chances which yielded just one point were their undoing.

In the thirteenth minute, Eoin O’Connell, after a great surge forward from defence, sent his shot skidding wide of the upright. In the 39th minute, Micheal Lowry had his goal-bound effort superbly saved by Clare goalie Thomas Collins, and in the 46th minute Niall O’Connor’s blast for a goal rose too quickly and skimmed the crossbar. A goal from any one of the three could have led to a semi-final spot for Tipperary.

“You have to take your goal chances if you want to win. They had one and took it. We didn’t take ours,” reflected Fitzgerald ruefully.

Clare’s early goal from Mikey Kelleher after two minutes gave them the initiative but Tipp never faltered and by the 24th minute were ahead 0-5 to 1-1, three pointed frees from Cian Smith, with further scores from Joseph Lawrence and Daithi Hogan, Tipp’s most impressive performer, comprising the tally.

Tipp were working extremely hard against a physically stronger Clare side and, not surprisingly, the effort took its toll. Clare finished the half strongly with a hat-trick of points from goalie Thomas Collins (free), Brendy Rouine and Sean McMahon, to go in at the break 1-4 to 0-5 in front.

They extended their advantage with two early points from Collins (free) and Rouine, on resuming and while Tipp were giving as good as they got, entering the last quarter Clare were 1-9 to 0-7 clear.

Tipp were by no means done. Showing great heart, they produced a thrilling rally in the last ten minutes that unfortunately came up just short. A brace of Cian Smith points, one from a free with further points from Niall O’Connor and Darragh McVicker, to which Clare goalie Thomas Collins responded with his third pointed free, had Tipp just two points adrift (0-11 to 1-10) as the game moved into injury time.

Tipp threw everything into those last minutes in pursuit of a winning goal. Clare, defending desperately, pulled all their players behind the ball to guard their lead and left Tipp with no path to goal. In a smart counter-attack, Clare won a free in the Tipp half which sub Tom Curran pointed to clinch their semi-final spot against Kerry.

When these sides met at minor level a few years back Clare were winners by a massive twenty points, but this was a much different encounter.

“We knew we faced a huge task playing them, but we have improved a lot since then and we had a lot of work done. We are terribly disappointed, but we had our chances”, Niall Fitzgerald reflected.

Tipperary football needs some young talent coming through to energise a struggling senior situation and this performance gives grounds for optimism. Tipp played a fine brand of football, patient when necessary, but with plenty of pace when attacking, a template for progress in the future.

Top performer for the home side was Daithi Hogan who was always a threat in possession. Full forward Evan Hawkins too had a fine game as a target man in attack while Sean O’Meara did an effective policing job on Clare senior Brendy Rouine. Charlie King controlled the backline where Jack Nevin was sound at fullback. Cian Smith also looked a threat in attack, his free-taking being a decided asset to his side.

Clare now face the daunting task of engaging Kerry in the semi-final in Tralee next week. On this showing they have work to do if they are to stretch the boys from the Kingdom but they will surely benefit from such a searching test of their credentials.

Tommy Curran, who came on for the last quarter, made a strong bid for a place in the starting line up in the semi-final with three points. Mikey Kelleher was also very productive in attack. Midfielders Brian McNamara and James curran worked very hard all through while in defence Joshua Guyler and Liam cotter were busy. Goalkeeper Thomas Collins made a big contribution to the win with three pointed frees and a match-winning save from Tipp’s Micheal Lowry in the 39th minute.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Shane Ryan (Moyle Rovers 6); Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan 6), Jack Nevin (JK Brackens 6), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney 6); Rory O’Dowd (Clonmel Commercials 6), Charlie King (Ballina 7), Sean O’Meara (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 7); Joe Lawrence (Rockwell Rovers 7), Eoin Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill 7); Micheal Lowry (Arravale Rovers 6), Declan Nee (Clonmel Commercials 6), Rory Collins (Moyle Rovers 6); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials 7), Evan Hawkins (Arravale Rovers 7), Daithi Hogan (St Patrick’s 8).

Subs: Niall O’Connor (Clonmel Og 7) for Mee (42); Liam McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields 6) for Hawkins (51), Eoin Doocey (Arravale Rovers 6) for O’Connell (53); Darragh McVicker (Clonmel Og) for Lowry (55).

Clare: Thomas Collins (7); Eoghan Casey (6), Fergal Guinnane (6), Joshua Moloney (6); Liam Cotter (7), Liam Culligan (6), Joshua Guyler (7); Brian McNamara (7), James Curran (7); Mikey Kelleher (7), Cillian McGroary (6), Brendy Rouine (6); Odhran Cunningham (6), Joe Rafferty (6), Sean McMahon (6).

Subs: Tom Curran (6) for McGroary (42); Paul Frawley (5) for Cunningham (49); James Cullinan for Culligan (59); Conor Meaney (NR) for Kelleher (60+2); Nicki Hardiman (NR) for Rafferty (60+5).

Referee: John Ryan (Cork).