Tipp minor footballers excel in defeat of Clare to make it three wins in a row

Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship - Round 3

Tipperary 2-10

Clare 1-8

Tipperary made it three wins in succession in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship with a routine victory over Clare in Quilty in what was essentially a dead rubber ahead of a final clash with the same opposition at the end of this month.

Both sides made a raft of changes to their round two teams for this game, safe in the knowledge that they would face off in the Daryl Darcy Cup Final on April 30th. Still, from a Tipperary point of view, it was encouraging to see such a dominant display as they were by far the better team throughout, with a late flurry of 1-3 from the host putting an air of respectability on the scoreboard.

Playing against a substantial wind in the first half at a sun-drenched but cool Quilty pitch, Tipperary were by far the slicker outfit with Patrick McDonagh the main man in the opening half with the Cahir player hitting a fine goal in the 21st minute along with two well-finished points from play.

The midfield pairing of Dylan Cotter and Dayle Hogan were utterly dominant in their sector throughout the game and combined for a total of 1-4 from play with Hogan burying a left-footed effort in the 26th minute after a clever short free from Ned O'Meara caught the Clare defence sleeping, and the JK Brackens man fired home brilliantly.

From here, Tipperary were always in a commanding position and even though they were sloppy at times at the beginning of the second half, the result was never in doubt with captain Dylan Cotter (2), Dayle Hogan, and Patrick McDonagh all firing over points early in the final quarter to secure the win.

Clare finished a lovely move in the 53rd minute when a run from Caleb Walsh left Kevin Hanley with a simple fisted finish to the net to raise their first green flag, while substitute Liam Clune also hit three points after being introduced, but it was far too little too late for Clare as Tipperary struck a psychological blow on their opponents ahead of their final meeting in two weeks time.

Tipperary: Mark Conroy (Drom & Inch); Tommy Burke (JK Brackens), Gavin Neville (Fethard), Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers); Danny Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Darragh Pollard (Ballingarry), Thomas Shanahan (Ballina); Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels, 0-3), Dayle Hogan (JK Brackens, 1-1); Finn Napier (Clonmel Commercials), Patrick McDonagh (Cahir, 1-3), Cian Collins (Galtee Rovers); Eamon Ryan (Moycarkey Borris, 0-1), Ned O'Meara (Mullinahone, 0-1f), Alex Coppinger (Durlas Óg).

Subs used: Michael Hanniffy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Ryan (44); Luke Hannigan (Clonmel Óg) for Napier (45); Mikey McGuire (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Collins (53); Brian O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs, 0-1f) for O'Meara (53); Paul McKeogh (Ballina) for Burke (57).

Clare: Eoin Byrne (St. Breckan's); Aaron Killeen (Lissycasey), Conor Hill (Lissycasey), James Blunnie (Kilrush Shamrocks); Leo Switzer (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Diarmuid Boyle (St. Joseph's Doora Barefield), Colm Downes (Shannon Gaels); David Cahill (Clooney Quin), Ruben Fallon (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Daniel Brody (Ennistymon); Shane O'Connell (Cooraclare), Conor Burke (Kilmurry Ibrickane, 0-4, 0-2f), Kevin Hanley (Wolfe Tones, 1-1).

Subs used: Gabriel Fennell (Cooraclare) for Downes (HT); Liam Clune (St. Joseph's Doora Barefield, 0-3, 0-2f) for Fallon (41); Caleb Walsh (The Banner) for Murphy (45); Darragh Townsend (Cooraclare) for Brody (47); Bernard Keating (Éire Óg) for Burke (56).

Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry)