Munster Senior Hurling Championship – Sunday, 2nd June 2019
Tipperary 3-21 Clare 0-17
It simply wasn’t their day! Clare were outplayed and outfought in Cusack Park as their Munster championship hit a serious stumbling block.
The Banner can bounce back and their match with Limerick next Sunday now carries a must win tag to restart their championship ambitions.
Tipperary maintained their form from previous wins over Cork and Waterford to gradually build a lead before striking 2-2 after the break.
The sides were level five times in the opening 10 minutes as Diarmuid Ryan, Podge Collins, David Fitzgerald and Peter Duggan found the target before Tipperary seized the initiative.
Noel McGrath’s goal on 21 minutes was massive for Liam Sheedy’s men and they built a 1-14 to 0-11 advantage at half-time as they capitalised on pressure applied to their opponents.
Shane Golden also scored for Clare but after Tony Kelly opened his account on 39 minutes, the Premier County wrapped this up.
Seamus Callanan pounced on Jason Forde’s free hitting the woodwork for the second goal. Patrick Maher made no mistake on 50 minutes with the third and Tipperary were 3-16 to 0-12 clear.
Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly and Aidan McCarthy concluded Clare’s scoring but this contest was gone and Tipperary advanced to the Munster Final.
Scorers – Clare: Peter Duggan 0-9, Tony Kelly 0-3, Diarmuid Ryan 0-1, Podge Collins 0-1, David Fitzgerald 0-1, Shane Golden 0-1, Aidan McCarthy 0-1.
Scorers – Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-6, Seamus Callanan 1-3, John McGrath 0-6, Noel McGrath 1-2, Patrick Maher 1-2, John O’Dwyer 0-1, Brendan Maher 0-1.
Clare: Donal Tuohy; Patrick O’Connor, David McInerney, Seadna Morey; Cathal Malone, Jack Browne, David Fitzgerald; Shane Golden, Colm Galvin; Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Diarmuid Ryan; Shane O’Donnell, John Conlon, Podge Collins.
