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2024 EirGrid Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 – Tipperary 1-10 Clare 0-7

April 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:00 pm

Tipperary defeated Clare by 1-10 to 0-7 in Round 2 of the EirGrid Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 on Wednesday April 17th at Ardfinnan.

Tipperary keep slim final hopes alive with victory over Clare

Munster U20 FC Phase 2 Round 2: Tipperary 1-10 Clare 0-07

Report by Eoin Brennan for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Where there’s life there’s hope it seems for Tipperary after keeping their Munster U20 final hopes alive following a gritty victory over Clare in Ardfinnan.

With holders Kerry almost assured of their return to the decider following their four-point win over neighbours Cork, Tipperary face an uphill task to join them as nothing but victory will suffice in Tralee next Wednesday to potentially break up Kerry and Cork’s dominance at this level.

While they led from Michael Freaney’s scrambled 27th-minute goal to the finish, it was far from pretty for Tipperary as they anxiously failed to close out the contest until injury time.

In total, the home side passed up five glorious goal chances and kicked seven second-half wides with the aid of the conditions.

Indeed, there was still only a goal between the sides by the hour mark but the late dismissal of Clare full-back Sean McAllister on a second yellow left the Banner vulnerable.

As the visitors desperately searched for a late lifeline, it inevitably yielded counter-attacks for substitutes Daithi Hogan (2) and Paddy O’Keeffe to exploit and finally make the game safe.

Having underwhelmed against holders Kerry seven days earlier, Clare were far more aggressive as nothing but victory would suffice to bring their championship hopes down to the final round against Cork.

Three times Michael Neylon’s side edged in front in the opening half, with Conor Fennell and Tom Curran both grabbing braces to nudge their side 0-5 to 0-4 in front by the 26th minute.

However, the tie would turn in the next passage of play as Joseph Lawrence’s driving run and hand-pass across the square was partially cleared by Conor Kearney, only for Michael Freaney to slide in and kick to the net on the hosts’ way to a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.

With the conditions now at their backs, what seemed a straightforward game management task quickly descended into a frustrating shooting drill as Clare grabbed the only score of the third quarter through Darren Keane.

Five Tipperary wides included a glorious one-on-one goal chance for Shane Ryan while Tommy O’Connor also had a shot blocked by Aaron Kelly before wing-back Darragh O’Brien finally showed the home forwards the way in the 47th minute at 1-6 to 0-6.

That pattern would be maintained for the remainder as talisman Orrin Jones had a goal disallowed for overcarrying while three different second-half freetakers missed the target as a Paddy O’Keeffe point was finally cancelled out by a Keane free at 1-7 to 0-7 by the 59th minute.

Clare’s ability to stay in touch made it a nervy finale but it was their impactful bench that eventually cemented Tipperary’s fourth victory of the campaign as Daithi Hogan converted two additional time frees while also teeing up the lively Paddy O’Keeffe to complete the double over the Banner.

With Clare now out of the reckoning, all eyes will be on Austin Stack Park in Tralee next Wednesday as Tipperary require a handsome victory and even need their Banner neighbours to do them a favor away to Cork if they are to reach a first final in three years.

Interview with Tipperary’s Michael Freaney, Player of the Match

Scorers for Tipperary: O Jones (0-3, 2f); M Freaney (1-0); P O’Keeffe, D Hogan (2f) (0-2 each); S Ryan (f), R McGrath (’45), D O’Brien (0-1 each).

Scorers for Clare: D Keane (0-3, 2f); C Fennell, T Curran (1m) (0-2 each).

Tipperary: R McGrath (Galtee Rovers); J O’Neill (Ardfinnan), E O’Connell (Loughmore-Castleiney), M Corcoran (Clonmel Commercials); D O’Brien (Aherlow), S O’Meara (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), C King (Ballina); J Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), E Doocey (Arravale Rovers); M Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), J Lawrence (Rockwell Rovers), T Charles (Clonmel Commercials); S Ryan (Ardfinnan), T O’Connor (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), O Jones (Arravale Rovers).
Subs: D Hogan (St. Patrick’s) for O’Connor (40), P O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers) for Higgins (43), B Carey (Ballylooby/Castlegrace) for Charles (50), N O’Connor (Clonmel Óg) for Lawrence (57), K Butler (Moyle Rovers) for O’Connell (63).

Clare: C Corry (Killimer); C Kearney (Kilmurry Ibrickane), S McAllister (Clondegad), A Kelly (Wolfe Tones); M Kelly (Lissycasey), O Cunningham (Killimer), J Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane); J Vaughan (Ennistymon), E Rouine (Ennistymon); P O’Dwyer (St Breckan’s), S McMahon (Banner), D Keane (Lissycasey); T Curran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), D Culligan (Lissycasey), C Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks).
Subs: L Pyne (Éire Óg) for Kelly (HT), S Neylon (St Joseph’s Miltown) for O’Dwyer (43), C Meaney (Clondegad) for Culligan (45), C O’Donovan (Corofin) for McMahon (50), E Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Moloney (60, inj).

Referee: S Mulvihill (Kerry)

Team Sheet

Ticket Information

General Admission: €10
Students/OAPs: €5
Under 16’s: Free

Tickets are available from participating Centra and Supervalu outlets or online via the link below.

Click here to buy tickets

Team News

Details

Date:
April 17
Time:
6:15 pm - 8:00 pm

Venue

Ardfinnan

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA