Clare take off as tired Tipperary grounded

Tipperary 0-15 Clare 1-16

Manager Ken Hogan was satisfied it explained their poor form for threequarters of this disappointing Allianz NHL tie, and it was a view shared by Clare coach Anthony Daly, whose team were in the same resort a week earlier.

Tipperary led for less than 30 seconds, from the time Eoin Kelly pointed a 30 yards free until Niall Gilligan levelled in the second minute.

Up to the 52nd minute, when they trailed by 1-14 to 0-8, they were simply not competitive enough, but, to their credit, they put in a grandstand finish for a level of respectability. And, they might even have prevented the Banner from winning at the venue for the first time in the league had full-forward Micheal Webster not wasted a great chance of a goal soon after the break.

“What did ye think,” asked Hogan of the media afterwards, before answering the question himself. “It was some last 20 minutes. I was thrilled, considering we got off the plane on Friday night at 12 o’clock in Dublin. When you go on a training trip like that, you have to make the most of it and we had seven hard training sessions. We have no excuses, it was terrific the way the lads lifted their game. We could have laid down when we were nine points down in the second half,” said Hogan, adding: “it was very heartening for me.”

Daly, undoubtedly pleased to see his team win away for the third time, agreed that there was little to be learned.

“It was just two more points on the board. The (Tipperary) boys were exhausted. We couldn’t have played last week after getting off the plane, we were sleeping for three days when we came home. “We had some good performances but they’ll all be judged in the championship on June 5,” he said.

In Tony Griffin’s absence, Clare brought Conor Plunkett in at right half-forward and moved Tony Carmody into the corner. They didn’t take long to establish an advantage, stemming initially from midfield where Brian O’Connell (who played a club game on Friday night) excelled alongside a typically industrious Colin Lynch.

Back in defence, Clare were quick to lay down markers, achieving dominance in the full-back line which wasn’t challenged until Brian Lohan was yellow-carded for obstruction in the 57th minute. Brother Frank followed him to the line - with Micheal Webster - following an off-the-ball incident.

The best Tipperary had to offer came mainly from their half-back trio, with David Kennedy very much to the forefront in the centre until injury forced him off in the 22nd minute. Eamonn Corcoran and Declan Fanning also impressed throughout.

Clare produced the only goal of the game in the 15th minute when Andrew Quinn, after receiving from Diarmuid McMahon, got away from Paul Curran and scored with a superb low shot.

By now, Sean McMahon was another tower of strength against John Devane and with Eoin Kelly making little or no impact at right corner-forward, Tipperary struggled for scores.

Twice, in the 24th and 32nd minutes, Kelly tried for goals from 30 yards frees which Davy Fitzgerald took a particular delight in stopping and on the second occasion Frank Lohan stopped Webster from finishing the ball to the net. Carmody was narrowly wide at the other end when he connected with a high shot from the consistent Alan Markham.

Tipperary’s strength at half-back limited the flow of possession inside to Niall Gilligan - facing an erratic Philip Maher - and it meant they were only five points in front at the break, 1-8 to 0-6.

Tipperary made no real headway for the opening ten minutes of the second half, during which they conceded three points. And, it was during this period that Micheal Webster missed his goal chance, taking a pass from Paddy O’Brien but hitting the ball into Fitzgerald’s welcoming hands.

Nevertheless, even with Clare maintaining their grip at the heart of the defence and Lynch doing some great work around midfield, there were hints of a Tipp recovery, to be seen in the determined play of Corcoran, improved form from Philip Maher (and Hugh Moloney alongside him) and a greater involvement from Devane in the half-forward/midfield area.

It saw them go from nine points in arrears to be only four behind with ten minutes remaining - and, for the first time, introduce a bit of excitement into the contest. However, following the break in play while Frank Lohan and Webster were disciplined, they lost their momentum and with it, the outside chance of gaining victory.

*Diarmuid Kirwan’s refereeing varied at times between very good and average. It lacked consistency.

Scorers: Clare - N. Gilligan 0-5 (0-4 frees); S. McMahon 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-2 ‘65’s); A. Quinn 1-2; T. Carmody 0-2; C. Lynch and C. Plunkett 0-1 each. Tipperary: E. Kelly 0-5 (0-4 frees); P. O’Brien 0-3 (0-1 free); J. Devane 0-3; P. Kelly 0-2; M. O’Leary and D. Egan 0-1 each.

CLARE: D. Fitzgerald; F. Lohan, B. Lohan, G. O’Grady; A. Markham, S. McMahon (capt.), G. Quinn; B. O’Connell, C. Lynch; C. Plunkett, D. McMahon, B. Nugent; T. Carmody, N. Gilligan, A. Quinn. Subs: D. O’Connell for Nugent (30th minute); D. Clancy for O’Connell (68th).

+Yellow-card replacements: B. Quinn for B. Lohan (57th minute); B. Lynch for F. Lohan (63rd).

TIPPERARY: B. Cummins; P. Curran, P. Maher, H. Moloney; D. Fanning, D. Kennedy, E. Corcoran; C. O’Mahony, P. Kelly; M. O’Leary, J. Devane, B. Dunne; E. Kelly, M. Webster, P. O’Brien. Subs: D. Fitzgerald for Kennedy (injured 23rd minute); T. Dunne for O’Leary (43rd); E. Buckley for Curran (45th); D. Egan for B. Dunne (52nd).

+Yellow-card replacement: E. Sweeney for Webster (63rd).

Referee: D. Kirwan (Offaly).

*Attendance: 5,956.