Tipperary and Waterford registered wins on Saturday. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship Phase 1 Round 2
Tipperary 0-15 Clare 0-14
Limerick 0-15 Waterford 0-13
By Stephen Barry
Fifteen points proved a winning total for Tipperary and Limerick in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship.
Daithí Hogan’s last-gasp fisted point gave Tipp their second consecutive win to close in on progression to the second phase.
In an even encounter that was level nine times, Tipp had to come from behind as late as the 59th minute with points from Charlie King and Hogan’s stoppage-time winner.
In between, they had to survive a Darragh Townsend goal chance, which was pulled wide.
Clare have suffered back-to-back defeat, but could still progress on score difference with a win over Limerick, so long as Tipp beat Waterford in a wide-open group.
Seán Fennell, just graduated from the minor ranks, was their star scorer with 0-7 (five from play plus a two-point free), but Tipp had the more even spread with 10 different scorers.
Fennell, starting out at centre-forward, got Clare on the board from the throw-in. He would become the dominant figure of the first half, but Eoin O’Connell limited his influence when he was switched inside after the break.
Tipp capitalised on turnovers to reel off four points. Paddy O’Keeffe swung over the first pair, Dylan Cotter slotted the next, and Hogan added a free.
The impressive defensive performance of Conor Hill stabilised Clare and Luke Pyne drove them forward for Seán McMahon and Fennell points. Pyne would finish with five assists.
They jumped ahead, 0-5 to 0-4, when Fennell nailed a two-point free. Billy Tierney and Jamie O’Keeffe came forward to kick impressive points in response.
Fennell showed great balance to bring his first-half tally to 0-6 and McMahon’s jinking point edged them in 0-8 to 0-7 ahead at half-time.
Tipp grew into the game, although their progress was hampered by eight second-half wides.
Clare carved out the first shot on goal when McMahon found Fennell in space again, but Robbie McGrath deflected his attempt over the bar.
That levelled at 0-10 all, but Tipp pushed on with Joe Higgins launching a two-pointer before Cotter tagged on his second.
Indiscipline cost them their cushion as substitute Conor Fennell converted one- and two-point frees.
A patient Clare attack was finished by Odhrán O’Connell for a 0-14 to 0-13 lead but Tipp had enough time to snatch the spoils.
Limerick needed a result from the Dungarvan GAA grounds and set about their task with intent, scoring the opening seven points in the first quarter.
They had all six forwards on the board by the break but Waterford rallied to trail 0-10 to 0-5 thanks to two-pointers from Diarmuid Mackle and goalkeeper Simon Burns.
With Diarmuid Hynes, Luke Walsh, and Shane O’Grady in good scoring form, the Déise still trailed by eight with eight minutes to play.
Paddy McCarthy and goalkeeper Burns (who ended with 0-5, including a pair of two-pointers from play) kicked doubles, but they came up just short.
