Mark McInerney of Clare celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Clare and Tipperary at Zimmer Biomet Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
CLARE 2-18 TIPPERARY 1-15
By Eoin Brennan at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg
Clare will contest a three-in-a-row of Munster Senior Football Finals for the first time in 108 years after eventually seeing off neighbours Tipperary in front of 2,893 in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis.
Leading from Mark McInerney’s 18th minute goal to the finish and ahead by a much as eleven points clear entering the final minutes, Clare’s superiority was threatened by a Tipperary injury-time rally in both halves to ensure a nervier than expected crescendo.
Indeed, Éire Óg clubman McInerney would kick a timely goal in each half to inspire the hosts to new heights as his first came amidst a 1-5 blitz while even after Tipperary had lessened the half-time damage to two, his second major only nine minutes into the new half would spark a 1-6 unanswered match-winning surge at 2-15 to 0-10.
To their credit, Philly Ryan’s visitors, despite falling behind by double figures, never dropped their heads at any stage and would be rewarded with a late rally of their own as Paudie Feehan’s inspirational two-pointer would be accentuated by a flicked goal from substitute Sean O’Connor on their way to slashing the arrears to just four with still two minutes of additional time remaining.
Without a score in nine minutes, Peter Keane’s home side simply finished the job with the last two points through Keelan Sexton and Emmet McMahon to progress to yet another provincial decider in a fortnight’s time.
It was all so different early on when Tipperary captain Steven O’Brien picked up from where he left off against Waterford by lofting over an opening two-pointer in the fifth minute before winning a penalty just three minutes later.
Unfortunately however, his soft kick would clear the crossbar but come back off the upright, a let-off that a relieved Clare would snatch with both hands when responding with 1-5 without reply.
Aaron Griffin bookeneded the 14 minute purple patch with points while Eoin Cleary, Keelan Sexton and Emmet McMahon also got in on the scoring action as McInerney raided for a timely opening goal.
It stemmed from a mislaid Tipperary handpass that was collected by Cleary to play in McInerney to finish past goalkeeper Shane Ryan at 1-5 to 0-2.
Six points would still be the gap by the final minute of the half when Clare were first denied a second goal, this time for Brian McNamara when Ryan raced from his goal to smother the midfielder’s shot.
Within three minutes, Darragh Brennan had kicked four points in a row including a last gasp two-pointer to leave only two points between the teams at 1-8 to 0-9. The players hadn’t even made it to the dressing rooms when a scuffle broke out, resulting in a black card for either side (Alan Sweeney and Mark Stokes) for the start of the second half.
Having been pegged back, Clare’s determination to re-establish full control was bolstered by a second McInerney goal only nine min utes into the new half when Cillian Rouine, Emmet McMahon and Manus Doherty combined to centre for him to round Ryan and double his goal bounty.
He would also convert three points in that lucrative period alongside a brace for Emmet McMahon as Clare soared to an eleven point cushion entering the final quarter.
Michael Freaney had a shot saved at the other end but the Banner would be still eleven in front by the time replacement Sean O’Connor kicked Tipperary’s first score in 24 minutes.
That rarity incrementally turned into an admirable backlash when O’Connor added 1-1 while Paudie Feehan (2) and Cian Smith sliced the hosts’ healthy advantage to just four by the 72nd minute.
An assured Clare closed out the contest but cannot afford any similar lapses if they are to capture a first Munster Senior title in 33 years against either Cork or Kerry in two week’s time, a famous victory incidentally captained by Mark McInerney’s father Francis.
Scorers for Clare: Mark McInerney 2-5 (2f, 1’45); Emmet McMahon 0-4; Eoin Cleary 0-3 (1f); Aaron Griffin, Keelan Sexton 0-2 each; Ciaran Downes, Daniel Walsh 0-1 each
Scorers for Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 1-2 (1f); Darragh Brennan 0-4 (1tp); Cian Smith 0-3 (2f); Steven O’Brien (1tp), Paudie Feehan (1tp) 0-2 each; Micheál Freaney, Mark Russell 0-1 each
Clare: Eamon Tubridy; Ronan Lanigan, Cillian Brennan, Manus Doherty; Fionn Kelleher, Cillian Rouine, Alan Sweeney; Brian McNamara, Emmet McMahon (0-04); Aaron Griffin, Dermot Coughlan, Ciaran Downes; Eoin Cleary, Mark McInerney, Keelan Sexton. Subs: Daniel Walsh for Downes (44, inj), Shane Griffin for A. Griffin (56), Gavin Murray for Cleary (64), Rory McMahon for Kelleher (67), Tristan O’Callaghan for Tubridy (70, inj)
Tipperary: Shane Ryan; Jason Madigan, Jimmy Feehan, Jack Harney; Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Luke Boland; Mark Russell, Kieran Costello; Micheál Freaney, Mikey O’Shea, Ben Comerford; Cian Smith, Steven O’Brien, Darragh Brennan. Subs: Emmet Moloney for Comerford (25), Manus McFadden for Boland (41), Sean O’Connor for O’Shea (41), Jack O’Neill for O’Brien (51), Jack Nevin for Stokes (61)
Referee: James Molloy (Galway)
