Round-up: Fulfil Munster U20 HC Round 4
Daniel Costello was Clare's match-winner in their Fulfil Munster U20 Hurling Championship victory over Tipperary.
Fulfil Munster U20 Hurling Championship round 4
Tipperary 2-14 Clare 2-15
Limerick 1-17 Waterford 1-18
By Stephen Barry
Clare and Waterford recorded nail-biting one-point wins on the road against Tipperary and Limerick in the fourth round of the Fulfil Munster U20 Hurling Championship.
The Banner claimed a smash-and-grab scalp against 14-man Tipp with a 2-2 streak in the last six minutes to overturn a seven-point deficit.
Daniel Costello and Marco Cleary banged in goals in the first and third minutes of stoppage time before man-of-the-hour Costello arrowed over the winner.
Because Waterford won the other game, both of these teams now qualify for the knockout stage alongside Cork. But it is Clare who remain unbeaten and in pole position to take the direct route to the provincial decider.
Tipp captain Oisín O’Donoghue was marked absent for this contest ahead of the seniors’ Munster Championship clash with Waterford on Sunday, although Stefan Tobin was made available.
They took a while to make use of the strong wind blowing in their favour until Cormac Fitzpatrick became the first player in this year’s championship to beat Mark Sheedy for 1-3 to 0-3.
Jamie Ormond’s brace was cancelled out by two Fred Hegarty frees, trimming the deficit to 1-6 to 0-7 as Clare turned to play with the wind.
Paddy McCormack produced a superb save from Seán Boyce and later denied Paul Rodgers for a second time. The Banner got the gap back to one, but Tipp clipped four in a row with good contributions from Ormond and Charlie Ryan for 1-13 to 0-11. Sheedy also made a vital save from David Costigan.
Midfielder Sam Rowan picked up his second yellow card with nine minutes remaining, but the Premier appeared to have struck for home with Tiarnán Ryan’s goal in the very next play; 2-13 to 0-12.
After trading points, the comeback started with Seán Arthur’s white flag on 57 minutes. The substitute then had an ambitious attempt saved before dropping in the 65 for Costello to sweep past McCormack.
The long-ball barrage eventually saw Cleary blast the equaliser to the top corner and there was still time for Costello’s winner.
In the other game, Limerick paid the price for 19 wides as Waterford earned a consolation 1-18 to 1-17 win at TUS Gaelic Grounds to round out their campaign.
Conor Tobin got the Déise off to a rapid start after four minutes, finishing to the net from a storming run by Joe McDonnell.
James Comerford made a brilliant save from Robert O’Farrell to preserve their lead. But the keeper couldn’t prevent Eoin Brosnan from smuggling the sliotar past him in the 12th minute to cut the gap to the minimum.
With Davy Comerford in fine form, they more than cancelled out that concession to lead 1-7 to 1-2. That remained the difference at half-time; 1-10 to 1-5.
Matthew Fitzgerald and Jack Cosgrove twice got the Treaty within a goal, but Waterford stretched away with four in a row as Davy Comerford would end with 0-10 to his name.
Limerick hit the next four and were soon within range, but James Comerford made an incredible save from Cosgrove to keep three between the sides.
Waterford would need every bit of that advantage. After Fitzgerald’s sideline cut, Tobin had the visitors’ last point to complete his 1-3 total.
Patrick Kearney, Brosnan, and Hugh Flanagan had the final three points, but Kearney hooked a last-puck free wide.
