Tipperary record first MHC win since 2024 All-Ireland final as they defeat Clare

It was a good start to the championship for the home-side on Good Friday.

Tipperary recorded their first victory at minor level since the All-Ireland Final of 2024 when they accounted for Clare at FBD Semple Stadium Thurles. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 1: Tipperary 4-20 Clare 3-19

Tipperary recorded their first victory at minor level since the All-Ireland Final of 2024 when they accounted for Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in the opening round of this year’s Electric Ireland Munster Championship on Good Friday.

Before a crowd of 2,287 and playing into the town end and aided by a strong breeze for the opening half, the hosts were quickly off the mark when Eanna Tucker fired over inside sixty seconds.

Two minutes later Ben Talty got the first of his majors from the penalty spot after Max Sheehan had been grounded in the small parallelogram.

Sheehan himself stretched the lead out to three before the home-side went on a run of seven unanswered scores in a ten-minute spell up to the seventeenth minute, with Chris Dunne, Eanna Tucker, Conal Morrisson and Oisin Kennedy all raising white flags.

In the seventeenth minute, a long ball from Shane Ryan was fumbled in the Clare goalmouth and Zach O’Keeffe was first to react, steering the ball over the line for Tipperary’s opening goal. Ben Talty and Shane Ryan traded points before Talty got in for his second major, with seven minutes of the half remaining.

During that period of Tipperary dominance, they created at least four goal chances, but Conor Keogh came to the rescue in the Clare goal. Clare had the better of the closing stages and trailed by three points at the short whistle, 1-11 to 2-5.

After the restart, Tipperary stretched their lead out to six, before Clare hit a purple patch, hitting seven of the next nine points up to the forty second minute, as the lead was reduced down to the minimum, 1-16 to 2-12.

Goals were at a premium over the final quarter, with Zach O’Keeffe and KJ Dunne getting a brace for the home-side in a ninety second spell. Chris Dunne and Ben Talty were on song from both play and placed balls, as the game entered the final ten minutes.

A Clare goal from James O’Donnell with three minutes of normal time remaining cut the deficit to two, but Chris Dunne found the net for the Premier after a surging run by KJ Dunne.

Two late points from Clare’s chief marksman, Ben Talty, reduced the lead to four, before time ran out. A good start to the championship for the home-side.

Scorers for Tipperary: C Dunne (1-8, 5f, 1 '65), Z O’Keeffe (2-0), C Morrisson (0-5), KJ Dunne (1-1), E Tucker (0-2), H Healy, C Ryan, S Ryan, O Kennedy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Clare: B Talty (2-9, 1-0 pen, 7f), J O’Donnell (1-2), I Hassett (0-3), G Madden, S Connellan, I O’Brien, C Coffey, M Sheehan (0-1 each).

Tipperary: E Connolly (Carrick Swan), C Ryan (Newport), D Groome (Borris Ileigh), C Collins (Captain, Galtee Rovers), O Kennedy (Newport), J Finn (Golden Kilfeakle), T McLoughlin (Cahir), S Ryan (Borris Ileigh), H Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), C Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore), C Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), E Tucker (Nenagh Eire Óg), Z O’Keeffe (Holycross Ballycahill), C Dunne (Gortnahoe Glengoole), KJ Dunne (Toomevara).

Subs: R McGrath (Kiladangan) for C Kennedy (44), C Gantley (Cappawhite) for H Healy (48), C O’Mahony (Thurles Sarsfields) for D Groome (50), J Moroney (Ballina) for E Tucker (54).

Clare: C Keogh (Sixmilebridge), M Fitzpatrick (Clooney Quin), C Maxted (Clooney Quin),O Perrill (Crusheen), F Plunkett (Clarecastle), C Daly (St. Joseph’s Doora Bearfield), O Duignan (The Banner), I Hassett (Clooney Quin), S Connellan (Kilmaley), G Madden (Scarriff), I O’Brien (Cratloe), C Coffey (The Banner), B Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora Bearfield), J O’Donnell (Broadford), M Sheehan (Ruan).

Subs: D McKenna (Scarriff) for B Talty (TS 6-8), R Mahony (Eire Óg Ennis) for C Coffey (38), D Clancy (Kilanena) for O Perrill (40), Podge Murphy (Corofin) for 0 Duignan (41), D McKenna for M Sheehan (48).

Referee: N Fahy (Cork).