Munster Hurling League - Round Two
Tipperary 2-22
Clare 0-20
Tipperary recorded their first ever competitive win under the leadership of Liam Cahill, and their first competitive win since last March as a strong second half showing put Clare away in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh earlier this afternoon.
A slow first half from Tipperary looked like it was going along similar lines to the Tuesday night loss to Waterford in round one, but the second half belonged to the Premier, with goals from Sean Ryan and substitute Jason Forde proving critical in a good win.
The win was very important to end a big drought without a win, but Cahill will be happy with the impact of Gearoid O’Connor, along with a good outing for Sean Ryan, and the bench in the form of Johnny Ryan and Cian O’Dwyer, while Michael Breen again did his chances no harm of nailing down a full back berth later in the year.
Despite the heavy conditions in MacDonagh Park both teams made a very lively effort at the start of the game and it was Tipperary who got the scoring up and running inside two minutes through a long range effort from Enda Heffernan after Sean Ryan did well to gain and recycle possession backwards.
Robyn Mounsey was a late replacement for Clare just before throw in, and the Ruan man was very prominent early on and had his side’s first score after three minutes, floating over a lovely effort.
Mark Kehoe was looking lively at the other end of the pitch, with Kehoe being set up by a clever long hand pass from James Quigley who won the Clare puckout with ease, and the Kilsheelan man eased it over off his left; just after Peter Duggan had giving Clare the lead.
The inside forwards were getting good supply at both ends of the pitch, with Sean Ryan showing well along with Jake Morris, but they were guilty of some poor finished product on a number of occasions, but Mounsey was having a very productive start and had Clare back in front by the fifth minute, with Mark Rodgers adding to that with his first three minutes later.
Gearoid O’Connor was making a nuisance of himself from Tipperary puckouts, and he also debuted on the frees in the absence of Jason Forde, scoring his first in the ninth minute, but Peter Duggan replied with one of his own to make it 0-5 to 0-3 in Clare’s favour after 10 minutes.
The relocation of Seamus Kennedy was a surprise to many when the teams were announced on Saturday, but his hard running was a feature of a few Tipperary moves, and he finished one of those well after being set up by Enda Heffernan to reduce the gap to a point a minute later.
It was tit-for-tat in terms of the scoring to finish the first quarter, as Clare points from Aidan McCarthy and Peter Duggan (free), while Gearoid O’Connor’s free made it a two point game in favour of the visitors by the 20th minute.
Robyn Mounsey was giving Gavin Ryan a torrid time of it as he was getting onto a mountain of ball, drifting out between the full and half forward lines, and he had his third point of the game in the 22nd minute, but Tipp soon hit a major, finally making a forward move into the Clare full back line count, with Alan Tynan bursting through the centre before giving a beautiful dummy and feeding Sean Ryan who finished low to the net confidently to give Tipp the lead at 1-6 to 0-8 after 23 minutes.
Clare’s response was rapid though as Davy Conroy hit his first of the day a minute later, but Conor Stakelum cancelled that out quickly with his first, but Clare soon had an opportunity to raise a green flag of their own, as Robyn Mounsey again was causing issues, ghosting in behind to run in on goal, but Bryan O’Mara denied him a shot to drag him down and receive a black card and concede a penalty.
Peter Duggan stepped up to the mark and connected well with his attempt, but Barry Hogan produced a top save high in the corner to deflect the effort over the bar; the teams tied at 1-7 to 0-1 after 30 minutes.
The sides finished the final seven or so minutes trading point for point, with Alan Tynan, and Gearoid O’Connor (two frees) on target for Tipp, while Patrick Crotty, and a brace from Mark Rodgers sent the sides in at the break all square at 1-10 to 0-13 with Tipp to avail of the breeze in the second half.
Tipp started the second half very fast after an extended break and nearly carved out a three pointer, with Sean Ryan running through the centre of the defence after skinning Cian Nolan and offloading to Mark Kehoe, but the pass was just short and Kehoe’s half volley went into the side net.
Gearoid O’Connor got his first score from play a minute after though, and another goal chance was left abegging, this time for O’Connor again, who was played in behind by Seamus Kennedy, but hit his effort at the angle straight at Eamon Foudy in the Clare goal.
The Premier men were looking the sharper team early doors in the second period, and a lovely point from Sean Ryan after a good run and evading a couple of hard tackles really raised the Tipp support in Nenagh.
Diarmuid Ryan made his introduction known with a long range point soon after, but Tipp maintained a two point lead from another O’Connor free, but yet again Tipp left Clare off the hook, this time from the penalty spot after Jake Morris was dragged down in the square; up stepped the newly introduced Jason Forde to hit a high effort but Foudy saved well to edge the shot over the bar.
Diarmuid Ryan was Clare’s biggest performer in the second half and a quickfire brace of scores from play - all of which were well taken efforts from distance - closed the gap to a single point after 51 minutes.
But it was one way traffic in terms of the play with Tipp well on top, scoring the next three scores, with Jason Forde bagging Tipp’s second goal eventually from another penalty; groundhog day as it was Jake Morris who was fouled again, while Forde’s first point from play, and a booming free from some 100 yards from Barry Hogan to open up a 2-16 to 0-16 point lead.
Both teams emptied the bench in the final quarter the give many players their first run outs of the year, but Tipp finished the game strongest, with Conor Stakelum, Cian O’Dwyer, Johnny Ryan, and scores from Jason Forde and the impressive Gearoid O’Connor gave Tipperary their first competitive win since the 2021 league victory over Antrim last spring.
Top performers on the day for Tipperary were Gearoid O’Connor who was a constant presence in possession, while his freetaking was impeccable. Bryan O’Mara looks every inch the intercounty centre back he is touted to be, while Conor Stakelum put in a huge shift again, along with Seamus Kennedy.
Sean Ryan also proved that his dismissal after the Kerry debacle last year may have been premature on the part of Colm Bonner, as the Templederry Kenyons forward impressed throughout.
Scorers: Tipperary: Gearoid O’Connor (0-8, 0-6f, 0-1 65), Jason Forde 1-3, Sean Ryan 1-1, Conor Stakelum 0-2, Barry Hogan 0-1f, Enda Heffernan, Mark Kehoe, Seamus Kennedy, Alan Tynan, Cian O’Dwyer, Johnny Ryan all 0-1 each.
Clare: Peter Duggan (0-5, 0-4f), Robyn Mounsey 0-4, Mark Rodgers, David Conroy, Diarmuid Ryan 0-3 each, Aidan McCarthy, Patrick Crotty 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Barry Hogan; James Quigley, Michael Breen, Gavin Ryan; Enda Heffernan, Bryan O’Mara, Brian McGrath; Paddy Cadell, Conor Stakelum; Seamus Kennedy, Gearoid O’Connor, Alan Tynan; Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe, Sean Ryan.
Subs: Conor McCarthy for G Ryan (HT); Jason Forde for Kehoe (48); Johnny Ryan for Cadell (55); Cian O’Dwyer for Tynan (55); Conor Bowe for Morris (62); John Campion for Stakelum (66); Jack Ryan for S Ryan (68).
Clare: Eamon Foudy; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Cian Nolan; Brandon O’Connell, Darragh Lohan, Cian Galvin; Paddy Donnellan, Seadna Morey; Patrick Crotty, David Conroy, Peter Duggan; Mark Rodgers, Aidan McCarthy, Robyn Mounsey.
Subs: Diarmuid Ryan for Morey (30); Aron Shanagher for Crotty (HT); David Fitzergald for Nolan (50); David McInerney for Galvin (50); John Conneally for O’Connell (56); Ryan Taylor for Hogan (73, inj); Oisin O’Donnell for Lohan (76).
Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)
