Munster Senior Hurling Championship: Clare 3-23 – Tipperary 5-22
Clare’s Munster Hurling Championship Campaign has opened with a home defeat in Cusack Park.
In a breathless opening half in Cusack Park it was the visitors who hit the ground running and after just four minutes of action had elapsed, Tipperary were leading by 1-03 to 0-00, with their first green flag coming by the way of a Jason Forde sideline that evaded all bodies in its wake to nestle in the back of the Clare net.
Nevertheless the Banner response was swift and emphatic as Brian Lohan’s charges hit the next six points in a row through the sticks of Aidan McCarthy, Tony Kelly & Ian Galvin to level the sides at 1-03 to 0-06 after just ten minutes.
Tipperary would soon enjoy their second purple patch of the half as Jake Morris ruthlessly capitalised on Clare’s defensive errors to rattle the back of Eamonn Foudy’s net twice in the space of six minutes.
The outlook seemed ominous for Clare after 25 minutes of action as Tipperary held the advantage by 3-08 to 0-08, however a quickfire brace of majors from Scariff’s Mark Rodgers would thrust the tie back into the melting pot once more.
As the sides departed on the half-time whistle at Tipperary 3-12 to Clare 2-11.
The second instalment was only six minutes old when David McInerney was deemed to have illegally prevented a clear goal scoring opportunity, resulting in an black card being issued to the Tulla man and temporarily reducing the Banner to fourteen.
Jason Forde stepped up to take the subsequent penalty and the Silvermines man duly finished with aplomb to restore a six point cushion for the Premier.
From the resulting puckout Ryan Taylor delivered an instant response to curtail the deficit , with further follow up scores from Aidan McCarthy, Tony Kelly & Ian Galvin leaving just four between the sides with 20 minutes plus additional times remaining.
However the introduction of Seán Ryan from the Tipperary bench would prove to be the final nail in Clare’s coffin as the Templederry Kenyons man goaled just seven minutes from full time to put the Premier out of sight.
Although Aidan McCarthy would provide a silver lining for Clare in the dying embers of the contest with a clever finish to bring his personal tally for the day to 1-12 it would prove to be too little too late.
As it finished in Cusack Park on a full time score of Clare 3-23 to Tipperary’s 5-22.
Brian Lohan’s charges will be hoping to get their campaign back on track when they face All Ireland Champions Limerick at the TUS Gaelic Grounds next Saturday at 7pm.
