Spirited Tipp reel in Clare again to win Darrel Darcy Cup

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 1 Final

Tipperary 1-16

Clare 1-14

(after extra time)

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sean Burke (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Ned O’Meara 0-7 (6 frees); Sean Burke 0-4; Dylan McCormack 1-1 (1-0 pen); Killian Smith, Ned Delaney, Jack Kearney, Dara Maher 0-1 each.

Clare: Conor Burke 1-9 (1x2free); Michael Normoyle 0-2 (1x2pt); Liam Casey, Ajay Daly, Danny Lyne 0-1 each.

Tipperary football got a huge and badly needed shot in the arm with the success of the county’s minor squad in the phase one final of the Munster Championship where they defeated Clare in a drama-packed encounter on Bank Holiday Monday that went to extra time.

The prize for Tipperary is a home semi-final against Cork next Monday, with the added bonus of annexing the Darrel Darcy Cup, something that has eluded them for the past two years, losing to Clare and Limerick respectively.

These sides met in round 3 of phase 1 a week earlier when Tipperary also enjoyed success, thanks to an injury time penalty goal. Tipp had to come from eight points down to achieve that result and their never-say-die spirit again saved the day for them in this encounter as they scored the last three points in ordinary time to send it to extra time and then, in the second period of that extra time, they again finished strongly, notching two points for victory.

Just 642 people were in attendance in Semple Stadium for what was a cracking encounter that ebbed and flowed in absorbing fashion.

Tipp fully deserved to win but made life difficult for themselves having one goal disallowed, and spurning two more great goal chances but the double over Clare puts them in a very healthy frame of mind facing into the semi-final.

The first big moment of the game came in the tenth minute when Dylan McCormack’s effort, which was going over the line, was helped to the Clare net by Ned O’Meara. The umpires ruled that O’Meara was in the square when doing so and the goal was disallowed.

Tipp were 0-2 to 0-1 ahead at the time and they breathed a sigh of relief when goalie James O’Brien made a great save to deny Clare dangerman Conor Burke at the end of the first quarter.

Though Tipp had more of the play, this was not really reflected on the scoreboard. Aaron McAndrew had a good goal chance nearing the break but was off target and the home county led 0-6 to 0-4, Ned O’Meara, and Sean Burke each getting two points with others from Dara Maher and Dylan McCormack.

Ned O’Meara had the opening point of the second half for Tipp, but Clare dominated the third quarter. Helped by two doubler pointers they moved 0-11 to 0-7 ahead and looked to be heading for victory.

The self-belief of this Tipp bunch is incredible. They never wilted. Points from O’Meara (2) and Burke kick-started the rally. Even a black card for Darragh Bresnan after 52 minutes didn’t shake them.

Two points down on the hour, they missed a close range free to narrow the gap. Three minutes of added time was indicated. In a hectic finish, Niall Delaney blasted for a winning goal, but his effort was turned over the bar. Still Tipp pushed forward and were rewarded when skipper O’Meara pointed a 64th minute free to level the game at 1-14 each.

The drama didn’t end there. Two minutes into extra time Conor Burke scored a brilliant goal for Clare after a surging run through the defence.

Tipp held their nerve and were duly rewarded after seven minutes when Sean Griffin was fouled and Dylan McCormack netted the penalty to leave it 1-14 each at the change of ends.

Tipp’s superior fitness told in the second period of extra time; Ned O’Meara put them ahead from a free and in the 78th minute Killian Smith moved them two clear.

The last minutes were fraught with anxiety, but Tipp stood their ground to allow Ned O’Meara to accept the Darrel Darcy Cup on behalf of the Premier boys.

There was euphoria in the Tipperary camp at the final whistle and justifiably so as they hailed a bunch of lads who simply refused to give up. There were many top class performances with Sean Burke, Jack Kearbey, and Dylan McCormack particularly prominent. Not far behind were goalie James O’Brien, Daniel Charles, Sean Griffin.

The North division was well represented with Ballina’s Luke McKeogh and Lorrha’s Killian Fitzgerald getting into the action while Kilruane’s Charlie Kennedy was also in the squad.

Clare will be no push-over in their semi-final against Kerry. With players of the calibre of Conor Burke, Donncha O’Dwyer, Cathal McNamara, Ajay Daly and Aidan O’Connell leading the way they too can be optimistic about their chances of making the final.

TEAMS – Tipperary: James O’Brien (Moyle Rovers 7); Cormac McInerney (Cashel King Cormacs 6), Daniel Charles (Clonmel Commercials 7), Conor Hurley (Moyle Rovers 6); Darragh Bresnan (Arravale Rovers 6), Niall Delaney (JK Brackens 7), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen 8); Sean Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane 7), Aaron McAndrew (Moyle Rovers 6); Sean Burke (JK Brackens 9), Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials 6), Aaron Brazil (Lattin Cullen 6); Dylan McCormack (Clonmel Og 7), Ned O’Meara (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone, Capt 6), Dara Maher (Clonmel Commercials 6).

Subs: Sean Cleary (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 6) for Brazil (HT); Charlie Hall (Golden Kilfeacle 6) for McAndrew (43); Cillian Morrissey (Moyle Rovers 6) for Maher (45); Reuben Grace (Galtee Rovers 6) for Smith (59); Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha 6) for Cleary (59); Killian Smith for Burke (13 ET); Luke McKeogh (Ballina) for Kearney (76 ET).

Clare: Oisin Tierney (7); Cian Corry (6), Aidan O’Connell (7), James Rafferty (6); Eoin Murphy (6), Shane Cahill (6), Ajay Daly (7); Donncha O’Dwyer (7), Ruben Fallon (6); Liam Keane (6), Jack O’Loughlin (6), Danny Lyne (7); Conor Burke (8), Liam Casey (6), Cathal McNamara (6).

Subs: Michael Normoyle (7) for O’Loughlin (HT); Aaron Kelly (6) for Keane (HT); Rian O’Neill (6) for Muprhy (44); Ollie Sherlock (6) for Casey (49); Sean Hegarty (6) for Lyne (53); Darragh Fahy (6) for O’Connell (HT ET); TJ Moore (6) for Fallon (HT ET); Liam Casey for McNamara (12 ET).

Referee: James Regan (Cork).