Tipperary 1-15

Clare 1-11

Electric Ireland Munster MHC semi-final

ON A NIGHT of poignant significance for Tipperary hurling, the county’s minor hurlers held off a spirited Clare fightback at Semple Stadium this evening to book a place in the Electric Ireland Munster minor hurling final on 12 July.

The late Jimmy Doyle’s passing was marked with a minute’s silence before throw-in and Tipp were 10 points clear in the second half before Clare whittled the gap back to just three approaching full-time.

But sub Mikey Connors shot over the insurance score in the final minute and Tipp held on to set up a final meeting with Cork or Limerick at Semple Stadium next month.

That clash will mark Tipp’s first Munster minor final appearance since 2012 and they had David Gleeson to thank for a five-star showing at full-forward.

Tommy Nolan hit a crucial 1-1 in the first half for the winners but Clare were hampered by some bad misses from the normally reliable Aaron Shanagher, scorer of 1-13 in this fixture last year.

Eight of Clare’s 12 wides were registered in the opening half as 3,462 spectators watched Tipp open up a 1-8 to 0-4 lead in Thurles.

Clare had just one point from play in the first half, scored by senior star Aaron Cunningham’s brother Jack, as Davy Fitzgerald’s son Colm chipped in with a sideline cut to open the scoring a long-range free.

Shanagher finally broke his duck with a free in stoppage time at the end of the half but Clare went 20 minutes without a score in the opening half and Tipp made hay with a run of 1-5 without reply.

Liam Cahill’s hosts moved 1-11 to 0-4 early in the second half but Clare, playing their first and only game of the campaign, got better as the game wore on, with sub Aidan Kennedy making a big impact.

Tipp’s win was marred by a knee injury to captain and dual star Stephen Quirke, who was stretchered off after just 18 minutes.

Scorers for Tipperary: Tommy Nolan 1-1, Lyndon Fairbrother 0-5 (4f), David Gleeson 0-4, Darragh Carey 0-2, Alan Tynan, Garry Ryan & Mikey Connors 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Aaron Shanagher 0-5 (4f, 1 65), Martin Daly 1-0, Colm Fitzgerald (1f, 1 sl), Jack Cunningham & Aidan Kennedy 0-2 each.

TIPPERARY:

1. Padraig Hayes (Ballingarry)

2. Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty Rossmore)
3. Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)
4. James Quigley (Kildangan)

5. Jack Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill)
6. Brian McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
18. Kevin Hassett (Drom & Inch)

8. Daragh Carey (Templederry Kenyons)
9. Alan Tynan (Roscrea)

10. Liam McCutcheon (Templederry Kenyons)
11. Stephen Quirke Capt. (Moyle Rovers)
12. Garry Ryan (Borrisokane)

13. Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch)
14. David Gleeson (Ballinahinch)
15. Lyndon Fairbrother (J.K. Brackens)

Subs:

22. Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers) for Quirke (inj, 18)

19. Shane Neville (Lattin Cullen) for McCutcheon (half-time)

20. Ruadhan Mulrooney (Portroe) for Ryan (45)

23. Mikey Connors (Drom & Inch) for Lowry (55)

21. Cian Darcy (Kilruane McDonaghs) for Carey (59)

CLARE

1. Jason Loughnane (Sixmilebridge)

2. Declan Power (Smith O’Briens)
3. Sean Phelan (Broadford)
4. Ronan Monahan (Tubber)

5. Darren Chaplin (Broadford)
6. Nathan Fox (Parteen) (captain)
7. Cathal Noonan (Killanena)

8. Colm Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge)
9. Jack Cunningham (Wolfe Tones)

12. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)

11. Mike O’Shea (Smith O’Briens)

10. Aaron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)

15. Conor O’Halloran (Éire Óg)
14. Martin Daly (Feakle)

13. Padraig O’Loughlin (Clonlara)

Subs

23. Aidan Kennedy (Kilmaley) for O’Shea (half-time)

18. Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare) for Monahan (38)

22. Dean Devanney (Wolfe Tones) for Chaplin (51)

24. Padraic McNamara (Kilmaley) for O’Halloran (58)

21. Sean Kennedy (Kilmaley) for Noonan (59)

Referee: Joe Larkin (Cork)

‘Croke Park is a lonely, lonely place when the Dubs get a run on a team’

Cork GAA club line the streets to pay touching tribute to the late Jimmy Doyle