Tipperary edge titanic tussle in Ennis to keep Munster Championship dreams alive!

Munster Senior Hurling Championship - Round 3

Tipperary 4-18

Clare 2-21

A frantic finish in Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog unfolded as Tipperary dug deep late in the second half to secure a lifeline in this year’s Munster Hurling Championship, with three late points the difference between the sides in a raucous atmosphere in Ennis.

Tipperary’s last win in the championship came in the same fixture back in 2023 in Liam Cahill’s first championship game in charge, and the five goals Tipp scored that they were almost emulated in this game too, with four first-half goals pushing the Premier to a priceless victory.

Leading by nine points at half-time after terrific goals from Andrew Ormond and John McGrath, Tipp were in pole position to get the win but Clare showed their champion credentials in the second half, eventually levelling the game by the 64th minute, and with Tipperary legs running on empty, it looked like Clare were going to push on.

However, John McGrath dragged his team to victory in the last ten minutes, first restoring Tipp’s lead with a score from play before winning a vital free for Jason Forde to convert, and when Eoghan Connolly and substitute Sean Kenneally pointed in injury time, it was just enough for Tipp to secure a priceless win and put their destiny in their own hands going into round four against Waterford.

A game where a loss was unthinkable for both sides would usually bring added pressure to what is always a tumultuous and difficult championship round robin, but you wouldn’t have thought that Tipperary were in a winner-takes-all contest with the start they got off to.

The Premier were handed an added boost just before throw-in when it was confirmed that John Conlon was out of the starting lineup - replaced by Daithi Lohan - and that looked like a critical happening judging by Tipperary’s incisive play in the first half.

Within twelve minutes, Tipperary had hit two goals through John McGrath and Andrew Ormond. The first goal via McGrath was a fine flowing move down the centre of the Clare defence that sent Alan Tynan in behind and offload to McGrath to rattle the net in the seventh minute.

Ormond’s first followed five minutes later, this time Clare were punished for sloppy play when a ruck ball broke behind the cover, Jason Forde putting the head down to break a tackle and feed the JK Brackens man who bounced the ball into the net from close range.

It was dreamland stuff from Tipperary and it could have been even more a few moments later when a classy delivery - from brother to brother - by Noel found John in behind the cover, and with one man to beat, he cut in on his left but ended up blazing his effort over the bar with the whole goal in front of him.

Clare’s full back line was all over the shop at that point, and they looked spooked and devoid of a cool head, minus the services of Conlon and Conor Cleary at the back, and just before the first quarter elapsed, Tipp had a third goal with John McGrath again the finisher. An unbelievable start for Liam Cahill’s charges, who led 3-3 to 0-5 after 17 minutes.

The defensive shape of Clare was completely unravelling now, and with the tails up, Tipp continued to look for majors and, incredibly, a fourth goal followed in the 22nd minute when Jake Morris sprinted clear on goal and after unleashing a rasper low to the ground, Eibhear Quilligan produced a class save. Unfortunately for him, the rebound was gathered by Andrew Ormond, who rifled home from an acute angle.

Incredibly, Tipperary were leading the All-Ireland champions, at home, by 4-6 to 0-6 after 27 minutes, after two Jason Forde frees beefed out the lead further for Tipperary.

Indeed, it more could and should have been more comfortable for Tipperary at the break when you consider that the team hit nine wides from 25 shot attempts, completely outpacing Clare in the shooting stakes as the Banner only notched fourteen shots in the half.

Alas, it was still impressive from Tipp and even though Mark Rodgers goaled in the 32nd minute, Tipp responded well with the last three points of the half through Forde (two frees), and a classy Jake Morris effort.

A terrific first half from Tipperary as they led 4-9 to 1-9 at the interval.

Despite that near-flawless first half, it was never going to be processionary in the second half, and the restart confirmed as much as Clare had the first three points of the half converted within five minutes, all from frees through Mark Rodgers.

The stiff breeze Tipperary enjoyed in the first half reversed quickly in the home side’s favour, and two vital scores from Andrew Ormond and John McGrath steadied the ship somewhat to keep Tipp in good shape at 4-11 to 1-13.

Despite that, Clare were coming like a train relentlessly now and they were dominant on the breaks and restarts which began to eek out space in the Tipp half back line, and they got good joy in the next ten minutes with Tipp forced to foul constantly going back towards goal.

It was turning now and the introduction of Shane O’Donnell in the 45th minute nearly caused a register on the richter slace as the home support became feral as the Ennis man entered the fray.

That shove was a boost to Clare and the support, and by the 53rd minute, points from Sean Rynne, Tony Kelly, and two Rodgers frees had Clare back in the game and trailing by just four points with ample time remaining.

It was all Clare at this point, and a massive shot in the arm came for them on the stroke of the 56th minute.

Again, a long delivery broke to ground and the Ballyea man collected the ball on the bounce and had space in the Tipperary semi-circle. However, he was taken down by Michael Breen in the square, and referee James Owens spread his arms. Penalty to Clare.

Up stepped the big man for the big occasion. Tony Kelly walking up to the ball, lifting and arrowing an unstoppable shot to the top right-hand corner. Game on as Tipp now held onto a slender lead og 4-13 to 2-18 with fifteen plus minutes remaining.

Fresh legs were required, and the introduction of Oisin O’Donoghue was added to with Willie Connors, Seamus Kennedy, and Darragh Stakelum being introduced, at a time after Eoghan Connolly popped up with a class long-range score in the 58th minute.

But again, the free count was going against Tipp and two more Rodgers frees levelled the game in the 64th minute - the last free won by Shane O’Donnell as he was making his presence felt now. Tipperary were taking on water and needed someone to step up and steady the ship.

The championship minutes were to come and a brief stoppage was a godsent for Tipperary before that last Rodgers conversion, allowing the team to reshape and settle slightly with a little over five minutes of normal time remaining.

Crucially, an experienced head stepped up for Liam Cahill and his team and the perfect time, John McGrath again working his backside off to turnover Daithi Lohan and point a priceless score from play.

McGrath popped up again from the restart when he manufactured a free from a long delivery that allowed Jason Forde to point from close range. All of a sudden, Tipp had opened up a two-point lead again. A huge few minutes for the team.

Clare were all in now and rolled out John Conlon off the subs bench to help push them forward once more but it was Tipp that found the next score with Oisin O’Donoghue winning a free in midfield that allowed his cousin and Cashel teammate Eoghan Connolly to step up and rifle his free over from some 60-metres on the angle.

Sean Kenneally made a massive impact too in that time, winning a long delivery into the two-man inside line with John McGrath; the Moneygall shooter gathering the ball and showing nerveless composure to slot over on the turn. A massive score 

Clare now trailed by four points, and from the resulting puckout, they managed to win a free that was slotted over the bring it back into the melting pot. Could Tipp hold on? They led 4-18 to 2-21 with a minute to go.

And, in fairness to Clare, they nearly found their ticket to draw the game late on when Ryan Taylor ran clean down the centre of the defence and, with clubmate Peter Duggan to his left, he just overshot the hand pass that allowed Jake Morris to track back and gather possession in the full back line; Morris wasting no time in clearing the ball long as the final whistle blew to absolute scenes from the travelling support.

An incredibly dramatic game, Tipperary continued their excellent record in Ennis in the round robin, winning for the third time in succession in what is the first win for the Premier senior hurlers in Munster since Tipp defeated Clare in the same venue in 2023.

Despite the brilliant win, the job is only half done for Tipp, who will have to recover, refocus, and prepare for the visit of Waterford to FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday, May 18th where a win would all but guarantee progress from the Munster round robin.

Scorers: Tipperary: John McGrath 2-3, Jason Forde (0-8, 0-7f), Andrew Ormond 2-1, Eoghan Connolly (0-3, 0-2f), Jake Morris 0-2, Seanie Kenneally 0-1.

Clare: Mark Rodgers (1-13, 0-13f), Sean Rynne 0-3, Tony Kelly (1-1, 0-1f), Ryan Taylor 0-2, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Conor Stakelum, Alan Tynan; Sam O’Farrell, Jake Morris, Noel McGrath; Andrew Ormond, John McGrath, Jason Forde.

Subs used: Oisin O’Donoghue for C Stakelum (47); Seamus Kennedy for Maher (56, temp); Willie Connors for N McGrath (58); Seamus Kennedy for O’Farrell (62); Darragh Stakelum for Tynan (63, inj); Sean Kenneally for Forde (66).

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Darragh Lohan, Conor Leen; Daithi Lohan, David McInerney, Cian Galvin; Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Sean Rynne; Shane Meehan, Peter Duggan, David Reidy.

Subs used: Rory Hayes for Leen (19); Shane O’Donnell for Meehan (45); David Fitzgerald for Rynne (59); Ian Galvin for Reidy (62); John Conlon for Daithi Lohan (67).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)