Liam Cahill’s Tipperary side proved too powerful for the Banner in Clare’s opening round of the Munster Senior Hurling League in McDonagh Park, Neenagh.
Playing with the aid off a strong first half breeze, Clare will rue many missed opportunities in the opening half, most notably a Peter Duggan penalty on twenty-six minutes which was brilliantly deflected over for a point by Barry Hogan whose goal would remain impassable throughout the contest.
Robin Mounsey and Mark Rodgers issued strong displays for the Banner men in the opening period scoring 0-03 apiece, while a goal for Tipperary’s Sean Ryan midway through the first half saw the sides depart level on a score line of 1-10 to 0-13 at the interval.
The sides continued to trade scores on the restart as the Premier began to slowly but surely eek out an advantage and Clare had netminder Eamon Foudy to thank for a stunning penalty save from Jason Forde on forty-five minutes to keep the Banner in touch.
However Forde would get a second bite of the cherry just five minutes later, making no mistake on this occasion as he buried the sliotar in the bottom corner of Eamon Foudy’s net to stretch Tipperary’s advantage out to four points.
From this juncture there was no looking back for the Tipp men who finished as worthy winners in Neenagh on a score line of Tipperary 2-22 to Clare’s 0-20.
Clare will welcome Waterford to Cusack Park next Sunday where a win with suitable scoring difference could still see Brian Lohan’s charges advance from the group stage.
