Munster U20 round-up: Clare start as they mean to go on, Waterford blitz Limerick

Clare finally broke their Tipperary hoodoo to get off to a winning start in the Munster Under 20 Football Championship

ON FORM: Clare's Sean Fennell hit 1-4 against Tipperary. Picture : Eamon Ward

Clare would finally break their Tipperary hoodoo to get off to a winning start in the Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 1 round robin in Páirc Naomh Mhuire in Quilty.

Having suffered four successive reverses to the Premier County in both phases over the previous two seasons, Clare, in their only home outing, fully capitalised by leading for the final 50 minutes of this derby opener.

Against the stiff conditions, it was Sean Fennell’s spectacular 1-4 blitz in just 90 seconds that completely flipped the script for the hosts as the Kilrush native kicked a two-pointer from each leg to sandwich an emphatic top corner finish in the 13th minute.

It completed a 1-6 unanswered rally to catapult the Banner into a 1-8 to 0-4 cushion by the turn of the second quarter. A shellshocked Tipperary did get a timely lifeline in the 18th minute when Liam Freaney’s point attempt dropped short and wasn’t held by goalkeeper Harry O’Gorman as opportunist Liam Kiely nipped it to flick the ball over the line.

Buoyed by that fortuitous score, the resurgent visitors duly lessened the deficit to just two by the 25th minute after successive points through Shane Ryan and chief marksman Freaney.

Not to be outdone, Clare decisively struck for a brace of points either side of the interval to restore a six point gap. The incessant running of Donncha O’Dwyer yielded a free for captain Daire Culligan to convert before doubling his bounty thanks to a breach to ensure a 1-10 to 1-06 half-time edge.

Now backed by the conditions, Clare consolidated their healthy position thanks to early strikes from Darragh Townsend and Sean Fennell within two minutes of the resumption. Tipperary manager Paddy O’Gorman wasn’t afraid to reshuffle his pack though, with substitute Emmet Bonner providing the sufficient impact to rally the visiting troops to kick the next three points, two from free taker Freaney at 1-12 to 1-09.

The Premier even had a glorious opportunity to regain full parity at the three-quarters mark when Oran Gahan played a one-two with Mark Neville to bear down on goal. However, the midfielder snatched at the attempt which drifted agonisingly wide, a miss that allowed their relieved hosts to breath once more.

Sean Fennell and Donncha O’Dwyer matched frees from Freaney and Mark Neville to keep that three point margin between the sides entering the final ten minutes. Precariously balanced, it was captain Culligan that fittingly provided the assurance coming down the final straight as he arrowed over a brace of frees to cement a first victory over Tipperary at this level since 2023.

Meanwhile, Four second-half goals helped Waterford to an opening round victory as they kickstarted their campaign with a dominant 4-11 to 2-7 victory over Limerick on Saturday afternoon.

It is just a third victory at this grade for Waterford, since 2021, while it also avenges the losses to the Treaty in the two most recent Munster U20 deciders.

Goals from Paul Bagnell, Joe Brennan, Corey Lyons and Callum Royle added to the interval lead, as the Deise eventually eased to victory.

A top-of-the-table clash is set for Lemybrien between the Déise and Clare next Saturday (2pm) whereas it’s effectively a last-chance saloon in terms of qualification for Tipperary and Limerick in New Inn at the same time.