Cahill: 'We just struck a day where everybody decided to be off on the one day'

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill disappointed not to be in a league final as free takers all had a bad day at the office.

DISAPPOINTED:  Tipperary manager Liam Cahill is disappointed not to be in a league final. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Allianz HL Division 1 semi-final

CLARE 1-24 TIPPERARY 2-13 

Another advertisement for the enduring relevance of Clare if not the forthcoming Munster championship.

Tipperary’s opening Munster SHC day win in Ennis last year seemed a lifetime ago after this schooling. They were the authors of their downfall with 19 wides and John Conlon was fortunate to stay on the field after committing a second yellow card offence that Liam Gordon deemed otherwise.

Nevertheless, they were always playing catch-up on a Clare team that are doing just fine without two of their outstanding hurlers Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell.

In their stead, David Fitzgerald has been leading by example and gave another demonstration of his impeccable form in this league.

Around him was a support cast that had too much muscle and energy for those in blue and gold, which must be jarring for Liam Cahill when Tipperary, who started their championship a week after Clare, were supposed to have more reason to make the Division 1 final.

Losing so many individual battles, it was little surprise that Cahill made three substitutions by the eighth minute of normal time. And while they had the desired effect as Tipperary cut the difference to two points in the 45th minute, Clare only kicked on again. Two points for Tipperary in the last 29 minutes of action was a pathetic return.

Sure, Clare had made plenty of the wind in the first half to lead 1-14 to 1-7 but Aidan McCarthy’s marksmanship against it was a level up from what the usually trustworthy Jason Forde and Gearóid O’Connor mustered when they faced the elements.

"Solid win,” assessed Clare manager Brian Lohan. “Good start from our lads and then obviously Tipp responded and brought it back to a two-point game and then a good response from our boys again. Did well.

"Probably wasn't an eight-point breeze but it was difficult breeze to shoot into and then we got a bit of momentum and did well from general play, our turnover figures were pretty good and we were able to build up that eight-point lead.” Clare had eight points on the board before Tipperary opened their ledger in the 12th minute via a Forde free. But their conversion rate from placed balls left a lot to be desired for the remainder of the half. After missing three, Forde was replaced on free-taking duties by O’Connor but he then sent two wide.

Keith Smyth was an eager starter for Clare, picking off two points inside the opening minute, and the strong running of the Clare half-backs and midfield was throwing the Tipperary centre out of shape.

The good Clare support were off their feet in the 14th minute when it seemed Mark Rodgers had finished to the net only for the strike to be adjudged a wide. However, there was a goal three minutes later as Jake Morris took receipt of a splendid Dan McCormack pass to score low past Eibhear Quilligan.

No sooner were Tipperary celebrating were they bemoaning tuning off for the resultant puckout as in-form Fitzgerald received it then made a dart towards goal and struck high to the net.

Cian Galvin stretched Clare’s lead to eight point in the 24th minute but there was a let-off for The Banner a few minutes later when Conlon, having already been booked, should have been yellow carded again after bringing down Forde as he honed in on goal.

Their lead jumped to nine by the half-hour mark although Tipperary, despite piling on wides from frees, saw out the half with the last couple of points through McCormack and Morris.

Seven points in arrear at half-time, 1-14 to 1-7, Tipperary had sliced the deficit to two by the 45th minute. Seán Hayes made an instant impact coming off the bench to net a goal seconds into the half after a driving run by Conor Bowe.

Another replacement Seán Kenneally brought them to win a score of Clare but the leading team sent over the next three points to resume control, the last of them a Fitzgerald effort which ended over 30 minutes without a Clare score from play.

After a Morris point in the 54th minute, they posted another three on the bounce to put the game beyond Tipperary.

And the wides kept on coming for Cahill’s men, their total escalating as their supporters streamed out of Laois Hire O’Moore Park before Gordon’s final whistle. “I think we had 20 wides overall, nine or 10 of them were from frees,” said Cahill. “The narrative coming into today was who will take the frees. We still have plenty of options there, we just struck a day where everybody decided to be off on the one day. That’s disappointing.

“It does happen and when it does, it does hurt you. Look, I still have massive belief in all my players. I can’t say that enough. It’s a difficult day out there. Conditions for the last couple of weeks and months have been horrendous but still, you can’t be leaving them chances after you. I’m not going to make excuses either. We’re disappointed we’re not in the league final, that’s the long and short of it, really.” Cahill has a history of turning seasons around after setbacks but as this comes a couple of weeks after they were served another reminder of how far Limerick are ahead of them he will need to summon all of his alchemistic qualities.

Scorers for Clare: A. McCarthy (0-8, 6 frees, 1 65); D. Fitzgerald (1-3); M. Rodgers (frees), D. Reidy (0-3 each); K Smyth (0-2); D. Ryan, D. Lohan, A. Hogan C. Malone, C. Galvin (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: J. Forde (0-6, 5 frees); J. Morris (1-2); S. Hayes (1-0); D. McCormack, A. Tynan, W. Connors, S. Kenneally, S. Ryan (free) (0-1 each).

CLARE: E. Qulligan; A. Hogan, C. Cleary, C. Leen; D. Ryan, J. Conlon, C. Galvin; C. Malone, D. Lohan; D. Fitzgerald, D. Reidy, P. Duggan; K. Smyth, I. Galvin, M. Rodgers.

Subs: A. McCarthy for M. Rodgers (temp 22-ft); S. Morey for D. Lohan (temp 47-54); S. Meehan for K. Smyth (52); S. Morey for J. Conlon (56); S. Rynne for I. Galvin (63); R. Hayes for A. Hogan (65); P. Crotty for D. Reidy (70+2).

TIPPERARY: B. Hogan; C. Morgan, R. Maher (c), B. O’Mara; D. McCormack, R. Byrne, M. Breen; W. Connors, C. Bowe; C. Stakelum, G. O’Connor, D. Stakelum; J. Forde, P. Maher, J. Morris.

Subs: A. Tynan for D. Stakelum, S. Hayes for P. Maher (both h-t); S. Kenneally for C. Stakelum (43); J. Ryan for C. Bowe (55); S. Ryan for G. O’Connor (61).

Sent off: J. Morris (second yellow, 70+2).

Referee: L. Gordon (Galway).