Tipp Under 20 Footballers late surge sees off Clare

Tipperary defeated Clare by six points in Ardfinnan to set-up a must-win game in Kerry

GAA: EirGrid Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 2

Tipperary 1-10

Clare 0-7

Report: Michael Dundon in Ardfinnan

Photos: Michael Boland

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Joseph Lawrence (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Orrin Jones 0-3 (2 free); Michael Freaney 1-0; Paddy O’Keeffe, Daithi Hogan (frees) 0-2 each; Shane Ryan (free), Darragh O’Brien, Robbie McGrath (45) 0-1 each.

Clare: Darren Keane 0-3 (2 frees); Conor Fennell, Tom Curran 0-2 each.

After watching his side see off the Clare challenge at Ardfinnan on Wednesday evening, Tipperary manager Niall Fitzgerald believes his team can beat Kerry who they meet in a crucial three clash of the Munster Under 20 football Championship next week.

Having lost to Cork in round one of phase two of the competition last week, a win over Clare, who lost to Kerry in round one, was imperative if Tipp were to stay in the championship hunt. A six point win over the Banner boys did not flatter Tipperary though it was not until late in the game, with Clare down to fourteen players, that they sealed their win.

Tipp were the better side most of the way but spurning a number of goal chances in each half, left them vulnerable until an injury time flourish yielded three points.

“I am delighted with the win,” began Tipp boss Fitzgerald.

“But my big criticism is that we were not clinical enough in front of goal and that is something we will have to put right for the Kerry game.

“We are still in the hunt for the championship, but we have to go down there and get the result. We had a six point win here, but it should have been much more. If we can improve on that we will give Kerry a good game.”

Tipp started cautiously but could have had a goal in the seventh minute when Joe Higgins was put through by midfield partner Eoin Doocey, but hesitated and was crowded out when about to shoot.

The sides were level, 0-3 each, at the end of the first quarter. Goalie Robbie McGrath pointed a 45 to give Tipp the lead but Clare struck back for two points before the decisive score of the half, Michael Freaney finishing to the Clare net in the 27th minute after a good run by Joseph Lawrence. Orrin Jones added a pointed free for a Tipperary lead of 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.

Given that Clare had the advantage of the breeze in the first half, Tipp were well placed at half time to repeat their phase one win over the Banner boys, but it wasn’t until injury time, and with Clare down to fourteen players following the red-carding of Sean McAllister (two yellows) in the 54th minute, that Tipp supporters in the modest attendance could breathe easily.

It was encouraging that goal chances were being created with Joseph Lawrence a key man in breaking down the Clare defence but Tommy O’Connor in the 39th minute, Shane Ryan in the 48th minute and Lawrence himself a minute later, all failed to raise a green flag when it seemed they must.

Tipp had to wait until the 47th minute of the second half for their first score since resuming and even Paddy O Keeffe’s 51st minute point to put them 1-7 to 0-6 ahead might well have been a goal as his shot which flashed over the bar could just as easily have ended in the net. In the 54th minute Clare had fullback Sean McAllister sidelined for a second yellow card, but Tipp failed to extend their lead from a favourably placed free.

When Clare pointed in the 59th minute to trail by just a goal (0-7 to 1-7), there was concern in the Tipp camp that they would rue their wasted chances but subs Daithi Hogan and Paddy O’Keeffe hit three points between them in the four minutes of injury time for an unflattering six point win that didn’t feel at all as comfortable as the scoreline suggests. And Niall Fitzgerald was quick to accord due praise to the contribution of the subs.

“Our subs made a huge impact again tonight as they did in previous rounds and that’s a great thing to have in your team”, he said.

So, Tipp travel to Tralee this week with a Munster final spot on offer. They go there with some momentum behind them, having been unbeaten in the three phase one games, and with a win and a loss (to Cork) in phase two, but Kerry will fancy their chances having beaten Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh last evening also.

Tipp will need to up the tempo of their game, to improve their decision making when in possession, and most obviously to be much sharper in front of goal, to upset Kerry.

Joseph Lawrence was a towering figure for Tipp against Clare ranging all over the field in a man of the match performance. Eoin O’Connell, Michael Freaney, Orrin Jones, Darragh O’Brien and Joe Higgins also did well, while Charlie King, the team captain, despite taking a heavy knock early on, was always in the thick of things.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney), Mark Corcoran (Clonmel Commercials); Charlie King (Ballina, Capt), Sean O’Meara (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Darragh O’Brien (Aherlow); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Eoin Doocey (Arravale Rovers); Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials), Joseph Lawrence (Rockwell Rovers), Michael Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Orrin Jones (Arravale Rovers), Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan).

Subs: Daithi Hogan (St Patrick’s) for O’Connor (40); Paddy O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials) for Higgins (43); Niall O’Connor (Clonmel Og) for Lawrence (57); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers) for O’Connell (60+3).

Clare: Cian Corry; Aaron Kelly, Sean McAllister, Conor Kearney; Joshua Moloney, Odhran Cunningham, Michael Kelly; Joshua Vaughan, Eanna Rouine; Padraic O’Dwyer, Sean McMahon, Darren Keane; Conor Fennell, Daire Culligan, Tom Curran.

Subs: Luke Pyne for Kelly (HT); Sean Neylon for O’Dwyer (45); Caoimhin O’Donovan for McMahon (50); Evan Cahill for Moloney (59).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).