Ronan Maher of Tipperary in action against Robin Mounsey of Clare during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Tipperary and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A
TIPPERARY 0-22 CLARE 1-18
By Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium
Tipperary will head into the National Hurling League final off the back of another win, this time a last gasp success over Clare on Saturday night.
Played in front of 6,531 on a brassy evening, there was little at stake for both sides with their respective fates in terms of having earned a final berth for Tipp and relegation for Clare having been confirmed beforehand.
Tipperary manager Liam Cahill made seven changes from the win over Kilkenny, including resting the three under 20 players ahead of their Munster Championship opener on Tuesday, while Clare welcomed back David McInerney after eight weeks out through injury.
It had the air of a challenge game to it for the opening half, although referee Colm Lyons issued six yellow cards as he put a stamp on proceedings. The returning McInerney opened the scoring for Clare, one of just four points from play in the opening half for the visitors, the others from Tony Kelly (2) and Robin Mounsey as they led 0-10 to 0-8 at the break. Kelly (2) and Mark Rodgers (3) added the remaining points from frees.
Tipp would have been the happier side at the break having played against the breeze with Brian McGrath, Ronan Maher, Dylan Walsh, and Conor Bowe pointing from play, with Eoghan Connolly and Jason Forde landing two frees each.
The visitors upped a gear at the start of the second half with Mark Rodgers goaling within 33 seconds of the throw-in as Clare raced into 1-14 to 0-9 lead on 42 minutes with Tony Kelly, Conor Cleary and the lively Aron Shanagher also on target. Eibhear Quilligan made a superb save from Jake Morris as Tipp finally got going, reeled off six points in a row as subs Gearoid O’Connor and Darragh Stakelum made an immediate impact.
Clare ended a fifteen minute period without scoring through another Tony Kelly point as the visitors managed to keep their noses in front until injury time when Tipperary reeled off three points from Jason Forde (free), Eoghan Connolly and a last gasp Stakelum point which proved to be the winner.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-9 (7 frees, 1 65); Eoghan Connolly 0-3 (1 free); Jake Morris, Darragh Stakelum 0-2 each; Ronan Maher, Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath, Conor Bowe, Dylan Walsh, Gearoid O’Connor 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Mark Rodgers 1-5 (0-4 frees); Tony Kelly 0-5 (2 frees); Aron Shanagher 0-3; Conor Cleary, David McInerney, Robin Mounsey, Sean Rynne, David Reidy 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle, Michael Breen, Eoghan Connolly; Brian McGrath, Ronan Maher, Joe Caesar; Craig Morgan, Willie Connors; Seamus Kennedy, Noel McGrath, Conor Bowe; Jake Morris, Jason Forde, Dylan Walsh. Subs: Bryan O’Mara for B McGrath (46); Darragh Stakelum for Connors (46), Gearoid O’Connor for Kennedy (46); Andrew Ormond for Walsh (51); Sean Kenneally for Bowe (63).
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Shane Woods; Daithi Lohan, John Conlon, David McInerney; Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Robin Mounsey, Sean Rynne; Shane Meehan, Mark Rodgers, Aron Shanagher. Subs: David Reidy for Mounsey (HT); Darragh Lohan for McInerney (47); Aidan McCarthy for Meehan (53); Patrick Crotty for Rynne (64); Paddy Donnellan for Malone (70+2).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
