Late Stakelum point seals brilliant comeback win for Tipperary over Clare in Thurles

Allianz National Hurling League - Division 1A - Round 6

Tipperary 0-22

Clare 1-18

A last-quarter second-half revival that culminated in a late, late winner from Darragh Stakelum confirmed Tipperary as the table toppers of Division 1A by defeating the reigning league and All-Ireland champions Clare in FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday night.

After a dire first-half contest that had Clare leading 0-10 to 0-8 at the break, the game burst into life when Mark Rodgers found the net straight from the throw-in, spurring Clare on in the early throes of the restart.

The Banner raced into a 1-14 to 0-9 lead and with Tipperary yet to emerge after the break, they looked like they might be able to press home their advantage.

However, Tipp did start to slowly eek their way into the contest point by point and with Jake Morris influential in the revival, Tipp scored six unanswered points between the 47th and 56th minute to bring it back to a single-score game.

Substitutes Bryan O’Mara and Darragh Stakelum were hugely influential when introduced and despite Clare edging into a one-point lead on a few occasions in the last ten minutes after Tipp had drawn level, the tide was with Tipperary in the dying minutes.

Darragh Stakelum produced the moment of magic at a pivotal time in added time, picking up a ball brilliantly from a Colm Lyons throw-in and launched an effort from midfield that floated over and sent the supporters in raptures.

A brilliant win for Tipperary who finished top of the Division 1A table and can now look forward to a league final against rivals Cork in a fortnight’s time.

Scorers: Tipperary: Jason Forde (0-9, 0-7f, 0-1 65), Eoghan Connolly (0-3, 0-2f), Jake Morris, Darragh Stakelum 0-2 each, Conor Bowe, Gearoid O’Connor, Noel McGrath, Ronan Maher, Dylan Walsh, Brian McGrath all 0-1 each. 

Clare: Mark Rodgers (1-6, 0-4f), Tony Kelly (0-5, 0-2f), Aron Shanagher 0-3, Sean Rynne, Conor Cleary, David McInerney, David Reidy all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Joe Caesar, Ronan Maher, Brian McGrath; Willie Connors, Craig Morgan; Seamus Kennedy, Jake Morris, Noel McGrath; Dylan Walsh, Jason Forde, Conor Bowe.

Subs used: Gearoid O’Connor for Kennedy (46); Bryan O’Mara for B McGrath (46); Darragh Stakelum for Connors (46); Andrew Ormond for Walsh (51); Sean Kenneally for Bowe (63).

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Shane Woods; Daithí Lohan, John Conlon, David McInerney; Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Robin Mounsey; Seán Rynne; Aron Shanagher, Shane Meehan, Mark Rodgers. 

Subs used:  David Reidy for Mounsey (HT); Darragh Lohan for McInerney (47); Aidan McCarthy for Meehan (53); Patrick Crotty for Rynne (64); Paddy Donnellan for Malone (72).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)