oneills.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Clare 3-17 Tipperary 0-17

By Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Clare dumped Tipperary out of the oneills.com Munster U20 hurling championship at FBD Semple Stadium this evening when 2-7 from wing forward Keith Smyth proved the standout performance.

A tame enough game until the closing stages, Clare were the better team and finished the stronger to claim the spot in the Munster Final where they will face Cork.

These two sides might have shared the spoils when they met in the first clash of the round robin in Cusack Park, Ennis a few weeks ago, but in this latest encounter, a winner had to emerge.

Perhaps the hosts could claim slight advantage in playing before their home support, but Clare are more than comfortable in Semple Stadium for any occasion and they relished the chance to play on the hallowed turf.

The sides were level at the break with Tipperary coming from behind to tie up the half thanks to a Jack Leamy placed ball with the final puck.

Clare though could have been well in front had they been more accurate – they struck nine first half wides against just two for the hosts who were far more economical in front of goal.

Tipp had a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes thanks to Leamy, Eddie Ryan and Cathal Quinn points, with Oran Cahill getting Clare’s score – the first of the game.

But, a David Kennedy goal for Clare in the 11th minute changed the complexion somewhat and the Bannermen went on to lead by 1-4 to 0-4 approaching the twenty minutes mark – Jack O’Neill, Patrick Crotty and Keith Smyth on target for them.

Tipp hit back and would score six of the next seven points through Leamy, centre forward Eddie Ryan (2), Sean Kenneally (2) and Peter McGarry to force their way into the lead – Keith Smyth getting one for Clare in the meantime.

The visitors finished the half well and they had three in a row from Smyth, Sean Rynne and Patrick Crotty to go back in front again, before Leamy tied the game up at the break.

It had been an error-ridden first half from both sides –the rain showers throughout the day making for difficult handling conditions at times. The half had really failed to spark and the hope at the interval was that there would be better to come.

The fare wasn’t much better in the second half and it was Tipperary’s turn to miss chances – two goals went abegging as well as a number of missed free. Ultimately, they cost Tipperary with the Clare lads making the most of their chances in the second half.

It was neck and neck for most of the half, but the decisive score came in the 27th minute when Keith Smyth bagged a brilliant goal to give the visitors a four point lead – the score came seconds after Tipp had missed a goal chance at the other end.

Niall O’Farrell extended the Clare lead and it was a case of Tipperary having to find a goal to stay in the tie. It didn’t come, though, and Clare scored a famous victory to qualify for the Munster Final against Cork with a last gasp goal from a long range free compounding the result from a Tipperary perspective, but proving the icing on the cake for the Bannermen.

Scorers for Clare: Keith Smyth 2-7 (1-6 fs), David Kennedy 1-1, Patrick Crotty 0-3, Oran Cahill, Jack O’Neill, Sean Rynne, Daithi Lohan, Keelan Hartigan, and Niall O’Farrell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Eddie Ryan 0-4, Jack Leamy 0-4 (4fs), Peter McGarry 0-3, Sean Kenneally 0-2, Danny Slattery, Darragh Stakelum, Cathal Quinn and Maidhc Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

Clare: Aaron Shanahan, Oisin Clune, John Kenneally, Ian McNamara, Ja Collins, Daithi Lohan, Oran Cahill, Sean Rynne, Jack O’Neill, Oisin O’Donnell, Patrick Crotty, Kevin Smyth, David Kennedy, Senan Dunford, Gearoid Sheehy.

Subs: Niall O’Farrell for Ja Collins, Keelan Hartigan for Senan Dunford, Colm Cleary for Gearoid Sheehy, Diarmuid Stritch for Daithi Lohan.

Tipperary: Jason O’Dwyer, Danny Slattery, Robert Doyle, Luke Shanahan, Cathal Quinn, Joe Caesar, Conor McKelvey, James Morris, Darragh Stakelum, Sean Kenneally, Eddie Ryan, Jack Leamy, Peter McGarry, Tony Cahill, Damien Corbett.

Subs: Maidhc Fitzpatrick for Damien Corbett, Stephen Ferncombe for Tony Cahill, Joe Egan for Eddie Ryan.

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).