Tipperary U20s produce season's best with comprehensive win over Clare in Sixmilebridge

O’Neill’s.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship

Tipperary 3-21

Clare 0-21

Tipperary’s U20 hurlers came away from Sixmilebridge with more than could have been hoped for before throw-in, producing a dominant display to take a nine-point victory in round three of the O’Neills.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship on Wednesday evening.

Taking a 0-12 to 0-9 lead in at half-time - and deservedly so - Tipperary took complete control of the contest in the second half with three goals including a brace from senior panellist Conor Martin and an absolute beauty from Paddy McCormack proving decisive in the win that sees Tipperary go top of the round robin group.

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This represented another resounding response from this group after what was a horror show against Limerick in the first round in Thurles last month, and when you consider that their next two games were tough away assignments to strong Cork and Clare teams, it is quite the rebuttal from Brendan Cummins’ young men.

A lot of focus pre-match was on the involvement of senior starters Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell and there was little heed given to the upcoming senior clash with Limerick as the pair played the full game and had a good influence across the board.

McCarthy was far from the match winner but he still hit his frees sharply, finishing with 0-9 points while Sam O’Farrell had a prolific even from wing back, hitting 0-3 in a strong performance.

The win though was definitely built on solid foundations at the back with Jim Ryan and Aaron O’Halloran impressing along with 2024 minors Cathal O’Reilly and Adam Ryan who both played very well, especially in the first half when the game was tightly poised.

Indeed, it was a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead that Tipperary held by the 20 minute mark and, even though Tipp were asking more questions in an attacking sense, the ball wasn’t sticking in the inside forward line with Oisin O’Donoghue and Paddy McCormack; at least not initially.

However, Tipp finished strongly with a pair of classy Paddy McCormack points from play, two McCarthy frees and a late Conor Martin point giving them the lead at the break and from the resumption they would take control.

Conor Martin’s goal set them on their way five minutes into the second half after neat build up play from David Costigan and Paddy McCormack set Martin clear on goal as the Cappawhite man fired low past Mark Sheedy in the Clare goal.

Sam O’Farrell, Adam Daly, and two Darragh McCarthy frees had Tipperary in a good place at 1-16 to 0-12 by the 43rd minute as Clare seemed devoid of ideas; and when Paddy McCormack scored an incredible goal on the stroke of the three quarter mark, Tipperary were in a commanding position, leading by 10 points.

That McCormack goal was a savage piece of skill, leaping like a salmon to a high delivery from Conor Martin to control off the stick into the hand and with the goal in front of him on the angle inside the 21, he let loose a rasper that flew into the top corner. Class.

After that, Tipp held their shape well to see out the result and, with score difference a possible stumbling block for Clare in their quest to get into the top three, they hit some good scores with Jack O’Neill leading from centre forward with three points as they had reduced the arrears to six-points by the final minute of added time.

Tipp though, would finish with a flourish with Darragh McCarthy winning a ball in a ruck, bursting through a challenge and feeding the overlapping Cathal O’Reilly on the 45 and with space to run into, he fed Conor Martin who showed his blistering pace to ghost in on goal and finish to the back of the net for his second goal of the game; securing a 3-21 to 0-21 win for his side.

There were some excellent performances around the pitch for Tipp who have more than turned a corner after the Limerick loss. David Costigan and Conor Martin were immense in the half forward line, while Adam Daly, Paddy McCormack, and Adam Ryan also excelled throughout.

Tipperary will face Waterford in their final game in FBD Semple Stadium next Wednesday and should they get a win their, they will likely top the group and go directly into a Munster final.

Scorers: Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy (0-9, 0-7f, 0-1 65), Conor Martin 2-1, Paddy McCormack 1-2, Sam O’Farrell 0-3, Adam Daly, Oisin O’Donoghue 0-2 each, Jack Hayes, David Costigan 0-1 each.

Clare: Fred Hegarty (0-7, 0-6f), Jack O’Neill 0-3, Diarmuid Stritch, Ronan Kilroy, Jamie Moylan 0-2 each, Michael Collins, Seán Boyce, Jack Mescall, James Hegarty, Robert Loftus 0-1f each.

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams); Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swans), Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Jim Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg); Joe Egan (Moycarkey Borris), Adam Daly (Knockavilla Kickhams); Cathal English (Father Sheehys), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh).

Subs used: Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens) for McCormack (blood, 8-10); Jamie Ormond for J Ryan (48); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Daly (56); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey Borris) for Costigan (59).

Clare: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); Eoghan Gunning (Broadford), Fionán Treacy (Éire Óg Ennis), John Cahill (Clooney Quin); Jamie Moylan (Cratloe), James Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona), Eoin McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield); Joe Casey (Kilmaley), Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); Ronan Kilroy (Banner),  Jack O’Neill (Clooney Quin), Michael Collins (Clonlara); Seán Boyce (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Fred Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona), Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara).

Subs used: James Organ (Corofin) for Casey (38); Robert Loftus (Éire Óg Ennis) for O’Halloran (40); Jack Mescall (Inagh Kilnamona) for Boyce (44); Tadhg Lohan (Cratloe) for Collins (52); Piaras O Sé (Ruan) for Hegarty (57).

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)