Munster Minor Hurling Championship – Sunday, 2nd June 2019
Clare 2-13 Tipperary 1-9
Clare are top of the table in the Munster minor hurling championship and within touching distance of a provincial final.
Goals from Diarmaid Cahill and Keith Smyth gave Fergal Lynch’s side a seven-point victory in a contest they controlled against the Premier County.
The swirling wind and some poor shot selections didn’t help their shooting as they hit 17 wides which will be a cause for concern. But a win over Limerick next Sunday will ensure their place in the All-Ireland series.
They were level three times in the opening quarter with Keith Smyth, Tony Butler and Cian Galvin converting before Shane Meehan made it 0-4 to 0-3 for Clare. And when Oisin O’Donnell set up Diarmaid Cahill on 23 minutes, Clare had a lead they never relinquished.
Clare led 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time as Diarmaid Cahill added a point before Shane Meehan was taken down on 36 minutes and Keith Smyth’s low drive hit the net for a six-point cushion.
Tony Butler, Keith Smyth, Conner Hegarty, Sean Ronan and Shane Meehan all troubled the umpires and even though Kyle Shelly struck a 53rd minute Tipperary goal, Clare’s victory was never in doubt.
Scorers – Clare: Keith Smyth 1-2, Diarmaid Cahill 1-1, Conner Hegarty 0-3, Tony Butler 0-2, Shane Meehan 0-2, Sean Ronan 0-2, Cian Galvin 0-1.
Scorers – Tipperary: Jack Leamy 0-3, Kyle Shelly 1-0, John Campion 0-2, Conor Fogarty 0-2, Paddy Creedon 0-1, Matthew Power 0-1.
Clare: Aaron Shanahan; Storm Devanney, Adam Hogan, Cillian McGroary; Jarlath Collins, Colm O’Meara, Tony Butler; Oisin Clune, Cormac Murphy; Shane Meehan, Cian Galvin, Oisin O’Donnell; Conner Hegarty, Diarmaid Cahill, Keith Smyth.
