Cruel ending to a magnificent year for Tipperary as Clare crowned champions

Tipperary left it all on the hallowed sod of Croke Park against a strong Clare side but it wasn't enough to end the season on a high as their opponents produced a strong second half showing in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior final decider at Croke Park.

The Banner had to earn it too, after Tipperary hit a quick fire start and built up a six-point lead with the major arriving thanks to Rachel O'Dwyer but, Tipp were reeled in as the game wore on.

Clare got level by half time with the teams tied at 1-5 a piece and it was a ten minute blitz just after half time, with goals and points from Clare - as well as a red card for Tipperary - that essentially left David Sullivan's team with a mountain that was just too high to climb. 

 
The game plan for both involved the key players as Clare supplied Sarah Loughnane  with constant ball while Tipperary played the ball into key forward Jean Kelly for most of the game hoping for the same result.

It was Tipperary half forward Ciara Brennan that opened the scoring for Tipp less than half a minute in before the scoring machine from Annacarthy, Jean Kelly, made her first contribution with a neat point in the 11th minute.

Tipperary hit their 11th goal of the campaign in the first half and, believe it or not, it was the first one all year that Jean Kelly hadn't scored. Rachel O’Dwyer found herself in front of the goal and struck a bullet high into the net in the 13th minute to give the supporters something to cheer about. 

The huge Tipperary following was vocal from the off and it helped the players settle into a rhythm however it proved difficult to maintain. 

A pointed free by Jean Kelly followed as David Sullivan’s team looked tuned in and sharp with a six-point lead and the scoreboard looking good at 1-3 to 0-0. 

The Banner were on their knees by now and it took an outstanding block by Sinéad Hogg to deny Clodagh Horgan another goal.

The goalkeeper Lauren Solon had to mop up from there and quickly she gathered possession and worked the ball out of defence for Clare. 

It was a lifeline Clare needed and they were grateful for it as it kicked them into action. Clare worked the ball up the field to the rampaging Jennifer Daly, one of the well known Scariff family. 

Her run tested the Tipperary defence and, after opening up the rearguard, the sliotar broke nicely to Sarah Loughnane who shot to the far corner of the net from a tight angle. 

The game was on from there and that missed goal chance at one end, coupled with the goal taken at the other took the wind out of Tipperary sails.

Tipp captain Claire Stakelum roused her troops with a fine point in the first half but quick fire points in a row from Laobhaise O’Donnell and two Sarah Loughnane frees ensured Clare were in the driving seat as they worked their way back to level the game at 1-4 a piece on 28 minutes.

The momentum had shifted as Clare drove into the game. Ciara Brennan and McMahon exchanged points and the teams went in level at half-time level on 1-5 a piece with the teams looking evenly matched.

It was close for most of this encounter but, as the second half opened, a blitz of scores from Clare gave them a good scoring cushion. That was the match winning time.

It started with a crowd rousing point from the excellent McMahon followed by a killer punch. The impressive corner forward Caoimhe Cahill was lurking on every loose ball and she rifled to the Tipp net in the 34th minute after Cashel goalkeeper O’Brien had saved well from the half-time substitute, Aoife Anderson. 

Horgan and Daly swapped points but Clare found the net again just over seven minutes after the resumption when dual player Caoimhe Cahill broke through and Labhaoise O'Donnell whipped first time off the sod to push Clare ahead on a scoreline of 3-7 to 1-6.

The Banner hit 2-2 to 0-1 between the start of the second half and the 41st minute. That seven point advantage was enough of a lead to withstand the pressure from Tipperary for the rest of the game.

It was all Clare by now and John Carmody’s team looked likely winners. The game began to fade for Tipperary after a red card in the 42nd minute as centre forward Ciara Brennan was sent to the line for a high challenge which was deemed a second yellow card. 

It was harsh in a free riddled game that was dominated by the whistle, with some calls leaving players from both sides wondering what the frees were for. 

Tipperary, with fourteen players, battled away all the same with Jean Kelly the main scoring threat. She was always lively and was fouled out the field as Clare didn't allow her into a goal scoring position.

She tried hard to leave her mark on the encounter despite the tight marking and she had help too as Tipp somewhat upped their general play after the sending off.

They kept Clare scoreless for the remainder of the game but the damage had been done and Clare saw out the encounter with a couple of goalmouth clearances. 

It was about not conceding a goal for them late on, and they had the players to see it out.

 Jean Kelly converted three late frees for Tipp but David Sullivan's team were relying on half chances. 

Overall the ten minute period after half time was the difference between the teams in what was a heartbreaking defeat for the Tipperary players but they can be proud of their performance and their efforts across the year. 

SCORERS FOR CLARE: S Loughnane 1-3(0-3fs); L O’Donnell 1-1; C Cahill 1-0; M McMahon 0-2; J Daly 0-1 

SCORERS FOR TIPPERARY: J Kelly 0-5(4fs); R O’Dwyer 1-0; C Brennan 0-2; C Stakelum, C Horgan 0-1 each 

CLARE: L Solon, S Hogg, C Lally, R Kelly, E Casey, L McMahon, S O’Keeffe, N Mulqueen, G Carmody, L O’Donnell, M McMahon, J Daly, C Cahill, S Loughnane, O Phelan. Subs: A Anderson for Phelan (ht), C Queally for L McMahon temp (44-45), Queally for M McMahon; A Cooney for Loughnane (56), R Crowe for Hogg (60+1), K Toomey for Cahill (60+2) 

TIPPERARY: A O’Brien, L Cahill, A Sheedy, C Ryan, R Maher, C Walsh, C McKeogh, E Cunneen, K Fitzgerald, R O’Dwyer, C Brennan, C Stakelum, J Kelly, A Dwyer, C Horgan. Subs: A Callanan for Maher (ht), A Crosse for Fitzgerald (ht), A McLoughney for Dwyer (37), N Murray for Sheedy (41), C Shanahan for O’Dwyer (53) 

REFEREE: Bernard Heaney (Meath)