Tipperary edge titanic tussle in Ennis to keep Munster Championship dreams alive!

Munster Senior Hurling Championship - Round 3

Tipperary 4-18

Clare 2-21

A frantic finish in Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog unfolded as Tipperary dug deep late in the second half to secure a lifeline in this year’s Munster Hurling Championship with three late points the difference between the sides in a raucous atmosphere in Ennis.

Leading by nine points at half-time after terrific goals from Andrew Ormond and John McGrath, Tipp were in pole position to get the win but Clare showed their champion credentials in the second half, eventually levelling the game by the 64th minute, and with Tipperary legs running on empty, it looked like Clare were going to push on.

However, John McGrath dragged his team to victory in the last ten minutes, first restoring Tipp’s lead with a score from play before winning a vital free for Jason Forde to convert, and when Eoghan Connolly and substitute Sean Kenneally pointed in injury time, it was just enough for Tipp to secure a priceless win and put their destiny in their own hands going into round four against Waterford.

More to follow……….

Scorers: Tipperary: John McGrath 2-3, Jason Forde (0-8, 0-7f), Andrew Ormond 2-1, Eoghan Connolly (0-3, 0-2f), Jake Morris 0-2, Seanie Kenneally 0-1.

Clare: Mark Rodgers (1-13, 0-13f), Sean Rynne 0-3, Tony Kelly (1-1, 0-1f), Ryan Taylor 0-2, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Conor Stakelum, Alan Tynan; Sam O’Farrell, Jake Morris, Noel McGrath; Andrew Ormond, John McGrath, Jason Forde.

Subs used: Oisin O’Donoghue for C Stakelum (47); Seamus Kennedy for Maher (56, temp); Willie Connors for N McGrath (58); Seamus Kennedy for O’Farrell (62); Darragh Stakelum for Tynan (63, inj); Sean Kenneally for Forde (66).

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Darragh Lohan, Conor Leen; Daithi Lohan, David McInerney, Cian Galvin; Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Sean Rynne; Shane Meehan, Peter Duggan, David Reidy.

Subs used: Rory Hayes for Leen (19); Shane O’Donnell for Meehan (45); David Fitzgerald for Rynne (59); Ian Galvin for Reidy (62); John Conlon for Daithi Lohan (67).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)