Tipperary U17 hurlers make it a double win over Clare with Celtic Challenge victory

Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge (U17) Cup - Division 1 - Round 1

Tipperary 0-13

Clare 0-12

Tipperary's Blue team repeated the feat of the minor hurlers in Thurles a night previous, by defeating Clare on their own patch by the bare minimum at an extremely blustery Caherlohan on Saturday afternoon.

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Taking place at Clare GAA's Centre of Excellence near Tulla, this game was one of two halves as a massive wind present shaped the way the game was played by both sides, and Tipperary just about managed to hold onto their lead built up with the advantage in the first half.

The Noel McKelvey managed side played some really good hurling in the first half, but probably left three clear goal scoring chances behind them that gave Clare oxygen going into the second half with the breeze to come; the 0-9 to 0-3 lead not a reflection of the domination and scoring chances created by the Premier youngsters.

Great resilience was shown in the second half as Clare poured forward and had cut the gap to two points after just ten minutes of the restart, but Tipperary showed composure facing into the teat of the strong Atlantic breeze facing them, and managed to eek out the scores that would push them toward an opening victory in this development competition.

As expected, Tipp started the game strongly with the gale at their backs and would race into a 0-7 to nil lead by the halfway mark of the first half. Morgan O'Connor (3), Ben Roche (2), Eoin Kennedy, and Noah Power all proving menacing as they provided the scores from range in this period.

Even allowing for the elemental advantage, Tipp were crisp in their play with Luke Murphy and Jack Walsh delivering fine ball into the forwards, as they limited Clare largely in that opening quarter. Indeed, it took the Banner 16 minutes to register their first score through an excellent Hugh Vaughan point after a soaring catch, and that did spark some chances for the hosts.

Tom O'Dea tested the hurley of Cathal Ryan in the Tipperary goal soon after, and while they would only register two points more in the half, the Clare resilience was strong at the other end as they limited the Tipperary scoring to just two more scores with two Morgan O'Connor frees before the break giving the visitors a six-point lead that really wasn't enough given their dominance in chances and possession.

A vastly different approach would be needed for the second half from Tipp, and while Clare started strongly with points from Darragh Moran (2) and Kevin Noonan (2) - largely from placed balls - Tipp were rigid in their defensive shape and put in a big shift to stall the Clare momentum up to the three quarter mark.

A Morgan O'Connor free in the 48th minute, followed by a brilliantly worked Kevin Grace point three minutes later steadied the ship greatly for Tipp. O'Connor added another free a few minutes later but Clare made changes that gave them energy as Tom McMahon hit two fine points with five minutes to go to cut the gap to three points as the Premier lads began to drop deeper and deeper with the clock ticking down.

Gradually, Clare chipped away at the 0-13 to 0-10 deficit with David Keating of Éire Óg Ennis hitting two points from play by thr 57th minute. Clare had two strong sights of equalisers in the final minutes to level proceedings, but the Tipperary effort was enough to put the necessary pressure on the shooters to fire wide; Tipp holding on for a hard fought win and cap off a good weekend for the county's U17 hurlers.

Scorers: Tipperary: Morgan O'Connor (0-7, 0-5f), Ben Roche 0-2, Eoin Kennedy, Noah Power, Enda Condon, Kevin Grace all 0-1 each.

Clare: Darragh Moran (0-3, 0-2f), Kevin Noonan (0-3, 0-2f, 0-1 65), David Keating, Tom McMahon 0-2 each, Hugh Vaughan, Tom O'Dea, Eoin O'Connor all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Cathal Ryan (Loughmore Castleiney); Ruairi Hackett (Kiladangan), Aaron Lane (Newport), Stephen O'Brien (Newport); Jack Walsh (Carrick Swans), Luke Murphy (Roscrea), Eoin Fanning (Killenaule); Enda Condon (St Mary's), Daniel McDonald (Loughmore Castleiney); Kevin Grace (Ballinahinch), Eoin Kennedy (Boherlahan Dualla), Ben Roche (Kilsheelan Kilcash); Noah Power (Carrick Swans), Morgan O'Connor (Cappawhite), Sean Lanphier (Moycarkey Borris).

Subs used: Charlie Cairns (Burgess), Odhran Ryan (Burgess), Charlie Carroll (Roscrea), Sean Óg Hayes (Drom & Inch), Darragh Beckett (St Mary's).

Clare: Jamie Moroney (O'Callaghan's Mills); Jack Quinn (Éire Óg Ennis), Cathal Lyons (Crusheen), Dylan McInerney (Sixmilebridge); Sean Daly (Kilmaley), Micheal Kelly (St Joseph's Doora Barefield), Kevin Noonan (Ruan); Harry O'Donoghue (Clarecastle), Morgan Culloo (Tulla); Tom Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona), Darragh Moran (Corofin), David Keating (Éire Óg Ennis); Eoin O'Connor (Clooney Quin), Hugh Vaughan (Broadford), Tom O'Dea (Ballyea).

Subs used: Tom McMahon (Kilmaley), Tadgh Hannon (Clonlara), Jack Long (Scarriff), Donnacha Kelly (Inagh Kilnamona).

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)

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