No stopping Banner bandwagon as U17s crowned Munster kingpin

Clare 1-15 Tipperary 0-7

Tipperary came into the game looking to win their third straight title but they were no match for a Clare side who dominated from the first whistle.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Clare opened up a five-point lead inside the opening quarter of an hour, with Conal Ó hAiniféin and Keelan Sexton scoring two points each.

Clare captain Michael Duffy put in a man of the match display and he scored the game’s only goal from a penalty midway through the first half.

It took Tipperary 17 minutes to get their opening points. Duffy and Sexton added further points before the break to give Clare a commanding 1-9 to 0-2 half-time lead.

There was to be no let-up from Clare in the second half as Eimhín Courtney and Darren Nagle fired over well-worked points.

Stephen Quirke scored two points in quick succession for Tipperary but Clare remained in complete control throughout. Sexton scored his second free just before the full-time whistle to seal a convincing 11 point win for Clare.

Scorers for Clare: M Duffy (1-3, 1f), K Sexton (2fs), C O’hAiniféin (0-3 each), D Nagle, E Hanrahan, E Courtney (0-2 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: P White (0-3, 2fs), S Quirke (0-2), L Duffy, J Bergin (0-1 each).

CLARE: E O’Kelly; C Downes, P Lillis, L Tierney; D Nagle, J Woods, C O’Dea; E Hanrahan, D Walsh; C O’hAiniféin, K Sexton, N McCarthy; E Courtney, M Duffy, S Malone.

Subs: M Byrne for S Malone (48), E Callinan for N McCarthy (54), N Murray for M Duffy (57).

TIPPERARY: J Brady; R Dennehy, L Ryan, F Linnane; S Kelly, W O’Connor, D Owens; J Kennedy, S Quirke; R Peters, P White, E Moloney; L Duffy, S Lonergan, D McGrath.

Subs: M O’Connor for J Kennedy (30), J Bergin for S Kelly (30), B Norris for R Peters (52), B McCarthy for E Moloney (57), C O’Shaughnessey for W O’Connor (58).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).