Gallant Tipperary team lose out in Daryl Darcy Cup decider to the Banner

Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Phase 1 (Daryl Darcy Cup) Final

Tipperary 0-10

Clare 2-12

By Cormac Thompson

A turbulent skyline hung over Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale as Clare triumphed to Daryl Darcy Cup glory with a 2-12 to 0-10 victory over Tipperary. 

The two standout teams in Phase 1 of the Munster Minor Football Championship faced off in a game which, beyond the glistening silverware, was of little consequence to either team's championship hopes. 

Tipperary came into the game unbeaten in the group phase while Clare’s only defeat came at the hands of Tipperary in a dress rehearsal for this game last week. 

Clare’s intention to play the ball deep was evident in the first attack of the game. Their main marksman Sean Fennel showed out in front before dropping his effort short into the hospitable arms of goalkeeper Mark Conroy. 

It was an ominous sequence for the Tipperary management who deployed extra bodies to mitigate the threat. Ill discipline from Tipperary that lead to the Banner's opening score from a Conor McMahon free. Despite heavy pressure from two Tipperary defenders, Fennell spun onto his right to double his side’s lead. 

The Premier responded with their first score less than a minute later which was an exemplary placed ball effort by centre-back Tom Corcoran. Fennel continued to be the prolific danger for Clare with his goal-bound shot saved over the bar by Conroy. Jack Garrett pointed an excellent left-footed free before Conor Burke replied with his first from play after spinning his marker. 

Walsh and Garrett converted a free from either side of the post before Burke went marching through for a goal chance at the other end but took the sensible choice and fisted over. Tipperary responded quickly and some sharp thinking from a 45’ put McDonagh through for an easy score. 

The final score of the half fell to Tipp’s top scorer Dylan Cotter who put in an early nomination for the score of the game with a sweet strike from the right-hand side. It would gift his side the lead as they journeyed to the changing rooms. HT Tipperary 0-6 Clare 0-5

Having neutralised the danger of the majority of Clare’s probing balls to the full-forward line in the opening half, it would prove to be a difficult task in the second half as Clare found their flow. 

Mark O’Connell missed a glaring goal-scoring opportunity but it didn’t take him long to make amends. A long ball into Fennell again proved fruitful as he fired an instinctive hand pass to the path of a storming O’Connell who left nothing to chance with his finish. David Cahill followed up with a point to extend the Banner’s lead to two after 35 minutes. 

Walsh and Burke traded placed balls with Garrett also joining in with a free of his own. Another inspirational score from Cotter cut the deficit to a single score. The Premier looked to be resurgent however they would go a further 16 minutes without scoring. Burke unleashed a brilliant outside-the-boot effort after a quick exchange with McMahon. 

Disaster struck for Tipperary in the 46th minute as Clare were awarded a penalty, Noah O’Flynn was deemed the guilty party. However, the Premier contingent were relieved to see Fennell blast the spot kick over the crossbar. 

A Burke double from dead ball and play extended Clare’s lead to five points. Tipp were now forced to go on a rampant offensive and while McDonagh yielded a fine score, there was nobody minding the house when Clare sprung on the counter. 

Burke clinched a man-of-the-match performance as he got on the end of a breakaway move, fuelled by the remarkable pace of Fennell, to finish past Conroy in injury time. A 2-12 to 0-10 scoreline meant that the Daryl Darcy Cup was heading to Clare. 

A disappointing defeat for Tipperary who will now face Kerry in the Munster semi-final next Tuesday evening. 

Scorers: Tipperary; Jack Garrett 0-3f, Patrick McDonagh, Dylan Cotter 0-2 each, Charlie Walsh 0-2f, T Corcoran 0-1 45.

Clare: Conor Burke (1-8, 0-4f), S Fennell 0-3, M O’Connell 1-0, D Cahill 0-1. 

Tipperary: Mark Conroy; Noah O’Flynn, Ronan Hayes, Gavin Neville; Danny Morris, Tom Corcoran, Jack Garrett; Dylan Cotter, Dayle Hogan; Jamal Yousif, Patrick McDonagh, Sean Griffin; Ciaran Kelly, Oran Gahan, Charlie Walsh. 

Subs used: Cillian Healy for Gahan (35); Cian Collins for Yousif (42); Jack McGonigle for Kelly (47); Alex Coppinger for Hogan (50); Thomas Shanahan for O’Flynn (56).

Clare: Eoin Byrne; Aaron Killleen, Conor Hill, James Blunnie; Leo Switzer, Diarmuid Boyle, Stephen Murphy; Aidan Weaver, Colm Downes; Daniel Brody, Sean Fennell, David Cahill; Diarmuid McMahon, Shane O’Connell, Conor Burke. 

Subs used: Caleb Walsh for Cahill; Liam Clune for Brody (42); Darragh Townsend for O’Connell (54); Kevin Hanly for Burke (62).

Referee: