Four first-half goals power Tipperary to win over Clare in Munster hurling thriller

Clare 2-21 

Tipperary 4-18 

Any doubts around the quality of this Tipperary side have been well and truly put to bed. And what a way to do it. The Premier ran riot in the first half in Ennis, hitting Clare for four goals in their victory on Saturday evening.

Clare weren’t going to lie down after the first half battering. They came agonisingly close, but it wasn’t to be. All-Ireland champions, their season all but over.

It could have been a very different story though. The roaring applause when Shane O'Donnell was introduced in the 45th minute told all. Clare had been gathering momentum – and brought the deficit down to five.

O’Donnell’s presence was a bigger lift. He was twice fouled for converted frees. Tony Kelly – scoreless from play, started to get into the game. Without his hurley, he pulled off a football style pick up, passed to Seán Rynne. White flag.

Kelly made a brilliant catch from a long puckout. He surged through for goal. He was brought down. Penalty. 

Kelly stepped up and buried it. Suddenly, just one point separated the sides with 53 minutes elapsed. Eoghan Connolly struck a thunderous effort for Tipp in reply.

Mark Rodgers landed two frees. Level, 11 minutes to go. But that’s where Liam Cahill’s side really had to prove their mettle. John McGrath fired over, Forde added a free. Two in front. Four to go.

Connolly got the insurance score from a free. Sub Seán Kennedy added one more for good measure. This was Tipp’s day. They weren’t going to leave Ennis without a result.

Clare can have no complaints. The similarities between Tipp and Cork’s visits were jarring. The difference being Tipp held their discipline. They needed this win.

After 17 minutes Tipperary had hit six wides. Tipp had just three points on the board, two from play. Nothing appeared to be going over the crossbar. It didn’t matter though.

Everything they hit flew under it and into the net. Four goals in 23 minutes. Fully deserving of each major.

First up was John McGrath after six minutes. Andrew Ormand passed to Alan Tynan. He set up an unmarked McGrath. He buried it across goal.

Six minutes later they had another. Jason Forde teeing up Ormond, he bounced the ball in cutely. Almost six minutes apart again – they had three. McGrath skipped in from the wing. His shimmy wobbled Peter Duggan. An easy finish. Never in doubt.

By this stage it was 0-5 to 3-3. Cahill’s men weren’t done. Eibhear Quilligan was able to deny Jason Forde. He wasn't able to prevent the follow up. The rebounded shot fell perfectly to Ormond. The Tipp fans were stood ready for the inevitable. Goal number four.

Clare can feel aggrieved by some of James Owens’ refereeing decisions. But Owens wasn’t at fault for the concession of four goals. Nor just four first-half Banner points from play.

The first half was humiliating. Clare would have trailed by 12 points were it not for a goal of the season contender from Mark Rodgers.

Tony Kelly shot from distance, but was hooked. David Reidy leapt in the air, catching the sliotar oh so elegantly. He squared it, high into the air.

A decision that seemed like the wrong one. Until Mark Rodgers emerged. Catch. He dropped to his knees. Bang.

It gave the Banner some desperately needed joy. But indecision and defensive fragility plagued their first half. Nineteen minutes and three goals later, Brian Lohan had seen enough. Rory Hayes was brought on for Conor Leen.

He couldn’t stop the bleeding though. Jake Morris, McGrath and Forde torched Clare’s full-back line. They were embarrassing the All-Ireland champions in Ennis. Something Cork had done in the first round.

But unlike the Rebels, Tipp would hold out in style after a thrilling second half.

Scorers for Clare: M Rodgers 1-13 (0-13 f), T Kelly 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1 f), S Rynne 0-3, R Taylor 0-2, P Duggan, C Malone 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: J McGrath 2-3, J Forde 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), A Ormond 2-1, E Connolly 0-3 (0-2 f), J Morris 0-2, S Kenneally 0-1.

CLARE: E Quilligan; A Hogan, Darragh Lohan, C Leen; D McInerney, C Galvin, Daithí Lohan; S Rynne, C Malone; P Duggan, D Reidy, T Kelly (c); S Meehan, M Rodgers, R Taylor.

Subs: R Hayes for Leen (19), S O’Donnell for Meehan (45), D Fitzgerald for Rynne (58), I Galvin for Reidy (62), J Conlon for Daithí Lohan (68).

TIPPERARY: R Shelly; R Doyle, E Connolly, M Breen; B O’Mara, R Maher (c), S O’Farrell; A Tynan, C Morgan; N McGrath, A Ormond, C Stakelum; J Morris, J McGrath, J Forde.

Subs: O O’Donoghue for Stakelum (47), S Kennedy for Maher (56-58 temp), Kennedy for Tynan (62 inj), D Stakelum for O’Farrell (62), S Kenneally for Forde (66).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)