The Dunnes deliver as Tipperary minor hurlers claim round one victory over Clare in Thurles

Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship - Round 1

Tipperary 4-20 

Clare 3-19

By Michael Dundon

Two goals in as many minutes at the end of the third quarter sent Tipperary on their way to victory over Clare in a high-scoring Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship first-round tie at Semple Stadium on Friday last.

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In a contest in which Tipperary made the running all the way, and could have had another three goals, they were never allowed relax by a combative Clare team who, right to the finish, were hunting them down. Tipp fully deserved to win but there is some housekeeping to be done before they encounter Cork in the next round at the same venue in a week’s time.

The minor championship can be something of a lottery, with the reaction of lads so young to the big stage sometimes stifling their ability. Both sides suffered in this regard but overall it was a fine contest showcasing some promising up-and-coming talent in both counties.

After a disappointing year at this level last year, Tipperary needed an encouraging start to the campaign and James Woodlock’s charges delivered the goods. Though dominant in the first half, they conceded two goals which kept Clare in the frame but, to their credit, they never wavered in their commitment to their free-flowing game and, despite leaving a number of goal chances behind them, were led only briefly at the start of the game.

A Clare goal after three minutes got the visitors off on the right note and it took Tipp ten minutes to make amends, Eanna Tucker’s point levelling at 0-4 to 1-1. Chris Dunne had a goal disallowed in the ninth minute when penalised for over-carrying, although it did appear he was fouled as he bore down on goal. Two minutes later Clare goalie Conor Keogh made a fine save to deny Conall Morrisson a Tipp goal, but gradually Tipp turned the screw to pull clear 0-7 to 1-1 before Zach O’Keeffe profited from a Shane Ryan delivery to bang home Tipp’s first goal in the sixteenth minute.

Leading 1-7 to 1-1, things were going well for Tipp but they suffered a setback after twenty-three minutes when a lucky break favoured Clare dangerman Ben Talty, who promptly dispatched the ball to the net. Zach O’Keeffe saw a fine effort for goal beaten out by Clare goalie Keogh and the interval arrived with Tipp ahead 1-11 to 2-5, Clare hitting the last two points of the half.

It was still very much anybody’s game and, with the breeze to favour them on resuming, Clare were well placed to succeed. However, Tipp re-opened in impressive style with three unanswered points, courtesy of their main attacking threats Chris Dunne (2) and Conall Morrisson. Clare came back strongly and cut the deficit to one point, 2-12 to 1-16, as the three-quarter stage loomed.

Then came the decisive two-goal blast that secured the win for Tipp. Firstly, Zach O’Keeffe notched his second goal after neat work by K J Dunne in the forty-fourth minute and then Dunne rifled home a great third goal for a 3-16 to 2-13 advantage to Tipp going down the home straight.

Clare were by no means finished and they fired over four points on the trot for a two-point game with nine minutes to go. Again Tipp responded with points from Chris Dunne and Conall Morrisson for a five-point lead but James O’Donnell netted for Clare with three minutes of the hour left. A precarious two-point lead was swelled a minute later when Chris Dunne, fed by KJ Dunne, had Tipp’s fourth goal, followed by a Conall Morrisson point to leave Tipp six clear in injury time. Clare had the last two points of the game but Tipp fans in the 2,287 attendance left the stadium happy at the evening’s work.

For an opening game in the championship, there was much to admire about the Tipp performance. In particular, the ability of the team to absorb setbacks without losing concentration was impressive. Likewise, the closing down of opponents in possession and the scoring return too was encouraging. Individually, the leadership of Conall Morrisson, Chris Dunne and Oisin Kennedy was important, with Conor Collins, Oisin Kennedy and K J Dunne also having big games.

This is a good Clare team and they could still have a big say in the championship. In Ben Talty they had a quality forward whose 2-9 return speaks for itself. Goalkeeper Conor Keogh also had a big game, with Isaac Hassett, James O’Donnell and Oran Duignan too doing their utmost for the Banner.

Scorers: Tipperary: Chris Dunne (1-8, 0-5f), Zach O’Keeffe 2-0, Conall Morrisson 0-5, KJ Dunne 1-1, Eanna Tucker 0-2, Hugo Healy, Colm Ryan, Shane Ryan, Oisin Kennedy all 0-1 each.

Clare: Ben Talty (2-9, 0-7f, 1-0 pen), James O Donnell 1-2, Isaac Hassett 0-3, Gearoid Madden, Sean Connellan, Ian O’Brien, Conor Coffey, Max Sheehan all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Eoin Connolly (Carrick Swans); Colm Ryan (Newport), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers); Oisin Kennedy (Newport), James Finn (Golden Kilfeacle), Travis McLoughlin (Cahir); Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore), Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg): Zach O’Keeffe (Holycross Ballycahill), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe), KJ Dunne (Toomevara). 

Subs used: Rian McGrath (Kiladangan) for C Kennedy (44); Ciaran Gantley (Cappawhite) for Healy (48); Ciaran O’Mahoney (Thurles Sarsfields) for Groome (50); Josh Moroney(Ballina) for Tucker (54).

Clare: Conor Keogh; Marcus Fitzpatrick, Cian Maxted, Oran Perrill; Fionn Plunkett, Colm Daly, Oran Duigan; Isaac Hassett, Sean Connellan; Gearoid Madden, Ian O’Brien, Conor Coffey; Ben Talty, James O’Connell, Max Sheehan.

Subs used: Ryan Mahoney for Coffey (38); Darragh Clancy for Perrill (40); Podge Murphy for Duigan (41); Donncha McKenna for Sheehan (48); Nikki Belenko for O’Brien (52).

Referee: Niall Fahy (Cork)

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