Tipperary footballers depart Munster Championship with their heads held high

Clare 2-18 Tipperary 1-15

Tipperary’s hopes of a first Munster Senior Football Final appearance since 2020 came unstuck on Saturday when they went down in the semi-final to a Mark McInerney-inspired Clare at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg Ennis, before an attendance of 2,893.

Following this setback, the Premier County side will complete their season in the Tailteann Cup, where they are guaranteed at least three games.

Éire Óg Inis clubman McInerny was in sparkling form throughout and his tally of 2-5 was the big difference at the final whistle.

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Tipperary had a late change to their selected lineout when Mikey O’Shea replaced Cathal Deely just before the throw-in.
They got off to a flying start when Steven O’Brien kicked a two-pointer after five minutes and two minutes later, following a move out of defence, Micheál Freaney was hauled down in the square but the resulting penalty from O’Brien was high and came back off the upright.

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This was a let-off for the Banner and they went on to score 1-5 over the next 16 minutes, and had gone into a 1-8 to 0-5 lead with two minutes of normal time remaining before the break.

Tipperary finished the half on a high and hit four points before the break to cut the deficit to two, leaving the half-time score Clare 1-8, Tipperary 0-9.

Prior to the restart, referee James Molloy issued black cards to Tipperary’s Mark Stokes and Clare’s Alan Sweeney, following a slight altercation as the teams left the field for half-time.

Clare took over after the restart and a second major from McInerney helped the home side to an eleven-point lead by the 57th minute. Tipperary again upped their game and a Sean O’Connor goal, which followed a Paudie Feehan two-pointer, had reduced the deficit to four points as the game entered added time.

However, the home side rallied and two late points gave them a six-point victory and a third consecutive Munster final appearance.

Tipp went into this game as underdogs but were first to set the scoreboard moving after five minutes when, following a Darragh Brennan turnover, Steven O’Brien landed a two-pointer. Two minutes later a long, high ball from Luke Boland found Micheál Freaney on the edge of the square, and the Kilsheelan man was hauled down as he attempted a shot on goal. Steven O’Brien’s penalty effort was high and came back off the upright.

This miss was a let-off for the home team and they quickly moved up a gear, getting back on level terms with points from Aaron Griffin and Mark McInerney. By the 18th minute Clare had gone three up when Eoin Cleary found McInerney, who blasted home from close range. This was a lead that they would hold until the final whistle.

Keelan Sexton, Emmet McMahon and Aaron Griffin added further points to put them into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead by the 23rd minute, having hit 1-5 without reply.

Tipperary came back into the game with points from Cian Smith and Micheál Freaney either side of a minor from Eoin Cleary. Both sides traded minors as Clare held a six-point advantage as half- time loomed.

This period, coming up to the break, produced some great scores by Darragh Brennan. Firstly, he latched onto a Freaney pass to skim the crossbar with his goal attempt.

Following a save from Shane Ryan at the other end, Brennan got on the end of a move to fire over his second point and doubled his tally with a two-pointer two minutes into added time, cutting the half-time deficit to two.

As the teams left the field for the break, there was a slight altercation, which saw those black cards issued prior to the restart.
Clare hit back after the resumption and scored 1-6 to 0-1 up to the 57th minute, with Mark McInerney and Emmet McMahon doing most of the damage. They had gone into an eleven-point advantage with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

But Tipp hit back in those closing minutes with a two- pointer from Paudie Feehan, followed by a goal from Sean O’Connor, when he rose highest to palm home a high cross from Darragh Brennan.

Further points from O’Connor and Cian Smith left just four between the sides, but Clare finished the better with two late points from Keelan Sexton and Emmet McMahon to advance to the Munster final, where they will play Kerry for the third consecutive year.

Scorers: Tipperary: Sean O’Connor (1-2, 1f), Darragh Brennan (0-4, 1x2pt), Cian Smith (0-3, 2f), Steven O’Brien (0-2, 1x2pt), Paudie Feehan (0-2, 1x2pt), Mark Russell (0-1), Micheál Freaney (0-1).

Clare: Mark McInerney (2-5, 2f, 1x45), Emmet McMahon (0-4), Eoin Cleary (0-3, 1f), Keelan Sexton (0-2), Aaron Griffin (0-2), Ciarán Downes (0-1), Daniel Walsh (0-1).

Tipperary: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials), Jason Madigan (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Mark Russell (Aherlow), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields), Micheál Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Mikey O’Shea (Mullinahone), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler Ballyneale), Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Steven O’Brien (captain, Ballina), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen).

Subs: Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise) for Ben Comerford (25), Manus McFadden (Grangemockler Ballyneale) for Luke Boland (42), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials) for Mikey O’Shea (42), Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan) for Steven O’Brien (50), Jack Nevin (JK Brackens) for Mark Stokes (60).

Clare: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg), Manus Doherty (Eire Óg Inis), Cillian Brennan (captain, Clondegad), Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon), Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg Inis), Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Alan Sweeney (St Bracken’s), Brian McNamara (Cooraclare), Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil), Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurray Ilbrickane), Emmet McMahon (Kildysart), Mark McInerney (Éire Óg Inis), Eoin Cleary (St. Josephs Milltown Malbay), Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey).

Subs: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurray Ilbrickane) for Ciarán Downes (44), Shane Griffin (Lissycasey) for Aaron Griffin (56), Gavin Murray (Eire Óg Inis), for Eoin Cleary (63), Rory McMahon (Kildysart) for Fionn Kelleher (67), Tristan O’Callaghan (St. Breckans) for Eamon Tubridy (70).

Referee: James Molloy (Galway).