McInerney brace fires Banner to third Munster final in a row
THE OPENER: Mark McInerney of Clare celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Clare and Tipperary at Zimmer Biomet Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Two goals from Mark McInerney fired Clare to a third-consecutive Munster football final appearance for the first time since 1917 with a six-point victory over Tipperary.
The Éire Óg Ennis star finished with 2-5 as Peter Keane’s side sealed Sam Maguire football in front of a 2,893 home crowd. It also marked the Banner’s first championship victory over Tipp since 2000.
The visitors’ target this season has been a Tailteann Cup run. If this game provided something of a Catch-22, they didn’t show any signs of that with a determined effort and will rue an early penalty miss.
Both teams made a late, enforced change. Fionn Kelleher got the nod from Keane for his Championship debut, replacing centre-back Ikem Ugwueru. Mikey O’Shea was restored to the Tipp team instead of centre-forward Cathal Deely.
Steven O’Brien was fit to start and, after Darragh Brennan’s persistent turnover, the Tipp captain opened the scoring when launching a two-pointer despite being knocked to the ground. He arose limping.
It almost turned into a dream start when Micheál Freaney drifted into the edge of the square for a high ball. Having claimed possession, he was fouled in the act of shooting for a penalty. O’Brien stepped up but his effort was too high and struck the upright.
With that let off, Clare awoke to take the lead by the 18th minute. It originated from a Ben Comerford slip after claiming a kick-out. Eoin Cleary pinched his subsequent pass and McInerney was overlapping into space to blast home for 1-2 to 0-2.
They raided the Tipp kick-out for the next three points via Keelan Sexton, Emmet McMahon, and Aaron Griffin to complete a 1-5 streak which swelled their lead to six.
The teams then traded three points apiece with Freaney and Ciarán Downes exchanging standout scores.
The half ended in a welter of excitement, led by Tipp corner-forward Brennan. Freaney’s floated pass over the top connected with the Ballyporeen man, who lashed his goal chance over the crossbar.
Clare worked a quick-passing opening at the other end but Shane Ryan advanced to save from Brian McNamara. Tipp countered to send in another dangerous high pass, which was recycled for Brennan’s second.
They won the kick-out and filtered the ball back to the man with the hot streak for Brennan to send over a two-pointer.
That cut the half-time gap to two, 1-8 to 0-9. Extra spice was added with a bout of handbags outside the tunnel, which saw Mark Stokes and Alan Sweeney black-carded on the resumption.
During that period of 14-a-side, McInerney outscored Tipp by 1-2 to 0-1. The goal arrived in the 44th minute when Clare punished a handling error with a slick counter-attack as Manus Doherty knifed into space to feed the dangerman.
A series of fine points featuring braces for McInerney and McMahon, plus a sublime Daniel Walsh kick, extended their scoring streak to 1-6. Eamon Tubridy protected that momentum by saving from substitute Seán O’Connor.
Clare led 2-16 to 0-11 entering the final five minutes but Tipp came with a late burst of 1-4. Paudie Feehan kicked a two-pointer off his left before O’Connor punched in a goal from Brennan’s delivery on 70 minutes.
It was Tubridy’s last involvement due to injury and Tipp added quickfire frees from Smith and O’Connor.
The deficit was four but Clare escaped the press to tag on insurance points from Sexton and McMahon.
M McInerney (2-5, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45); E McMahon (0-4); E Cleary (0-3, 1 free); K Sexton, A Griffin (0-2 each); C Downes, D Walsh (0-1 each).
S O’Connor (1-2, 0-1 free); D Brennan (0-4, 1tp); C Smith (0-3, 2 frees); P Feehan (tp), S O’Brien (tp) (0-2 each); M Russell, M Freaney (0-1 each).
E Tubridy; R Lanigan, C Brennan, M Doherty; F Kelleher, C Rouine, A Sweeney; B McNamara, E McMahon; D Coughlan, A Griffin, C Downes; E Cleary, M McInerney, K Sexton.
D Walsh for Downes (44), S Griffin for A Griffin (57), G Murray for Cleary (64), R McMahon for Kelleher (68), T O’Callaghan for Tubridy (70, inj).
A Sweeney (36-46).
S Ryan; J Madigan, J Feehan, J Harney; M Stokes, L Boland, P Feehan; M Russell, K Costello; M Freaney, S O’Brien, B Comerford; C Smith, M O’Shea, D Brennan.
E Moloney for Comerford (25), M McFadden for Boland (42), S O’Connor for O’Shea (42), J O’Neill for O’Brien (51), J Nevin for Stokes (61).
M Stokes (36-46).
J Molloy (Galway).
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