McGrath Cup: Wins for Tipperary and Clare
Limerick supporter Pat Carroll, from Croom in Limerick, wearing a green Santa Claus outfit to keep warm, during the McGrath Cup match between Limerick and Tipperary at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale, Limerick. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
McGrath Cup round 1
Group A: Clare 3-10 (3-1-8) Waterford 0-11 (0-1-9)
Group B: Tipperary 0-15 (0-0-15) Limerick 0-4 (0-0-4)
By Stephen Barry
Tipperary and Clare opened their 2026 campaigns under new management with first-round McGrath Cup wins away to Limerick and Waterford.
Niall Fitzgerald's Tipp came with a stronger deck at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, and proved routine 0-15 to 0-4 winners.
U20 graduates Paddy O’Keeffe (0-4) and Charlie King (0-3) took their opportunities to lay down a marker, while Seán O’Connor added four points before being called ashore.
There was also a first senior involvement for Holycross-Ballycahill dual recruit Eoin Craddock, who won Munster U20 Hurling and Fitzgibbon Cup titles in 2024. He immediately settled with a debut score.
Cian Smith kicked the next pair and O’Connor slotted his first before Limerick gained their only point of the half in the 13th minute through Shane Cross.
Tipp gobbled up a handful of turnovers to reel off all five points from there to the break, including braces from O’Connor and O’Keeffe, for a 0-9 to 0-1 lead.
Tipp resumed in a similar vein to move 10 clear through King and O’Keeffe.
Limerick began to gain a foothold with a sustained period of possession. Cross converted the only pointed free of the hour and substitute Sam Colgan survived a strong tackle to land a wonderful score.
King added two more before influential Treaty corner-back Aaron Neville laid on the final score for Evan Curry.
At Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, Paul Madden's Clare had to weather a sterner Waterford test with goals from Joe Rafferty, Caoilfhionn O’Dea, and Jamie Stack for a 3-10 to 0-11 win.
The Déise opened up an early lead, but goals changed this contest. Mark McInerney fired over before stealing possession for Rafferty to hit the net.
Waterford goalkeeper Josh Sheridan received a quick free to land a two-point response to level. But O’Dea got in behind approaching half-time to finish for a 2-4 to 0-8 lead.
Dermot Coughlan landed a two-pointer to increase their cushion and substitute Stack completed the victory with his 58th-minute finish.
