Clare 1-23
Tipperary 1-21
Fintan O’Toole reports from Semple Stadium
LATE INJURY-TIME points from Podge Collins and Peter Duggan propelled Clare to a remarkable Munster senior hurling championship victory in Thurles today and knocked Tipperary out of the 2018 race.
Having trailed by eight points at one stage in the first half and down five with ten to go, Clare kept battling and were rewarded when substitute Ian Galvin rifled home a 64th minute goal, seconds after Tipperary’s Jake Morris had hit the post at the other end.
Galvin’s strike left Clare trailing 1-19 to 1-18. Tipperary countered with a Seamus Callanan point but crucially Jason Forde missed the chance to send them three clear from a free. That would prove telling as John Conlon and Duggan brought Clare level deep into injury-time as the tension and drama was ratcheted up.
Noel McGrath nudged Tipperary in front 1-21 to 1-20 in the 73rd minute before Clare powered for home with Collins, who hit 0-3 off the bench, and Duggan, twice, on target from play as they prevailed with two points to spare.
Billy McCarthy had marked Tipperary’s early dominance by backing himself in the 13th minute after an incisive run when he shot decisively to the net as Michael Ryan’s team raced in front by 1-4 to 0-1 at that juncture.
Tipperary were in front 1-10 to 0-9 at the interval and stayed ahead for much of the second half before Clare’s late rally secured a first championship win over the Premier since 2003.
Scorers for Clare: Peter Duggan 0-15 (0-13f), Podge Collins 0-3, Ian Galvin 1-0, Tony Kelly, John Conlon 0-2 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-10 (0-8f, 0-1 ’65), John McGrath 0-3, Billy McCarthy 1-0, Seamus Callanan, Noel McGrath 0-2 each, Ronan Maher, Padraic Maher, Cathal Barrett, Patrick Maher 0-1 each.
Clare
1. Donal Tuohy (Crusheen)
2. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber – captain)
3. David McInerney (Tulla)
4. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
5. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
7. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
10. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
12. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
13. Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
14. John Conlon (Clonlara)
15. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
Subs
25. Podge Collins (Cratloe) for McGrath (35 + 3)
19. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Fitzgerald (47)
23. Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Reidy (59)
18. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Malone (62)
26. Darragh Corry (Tulla) for Galvin (63)
Tipperary
1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)
2. Seán O’Brien (Newport)
3. Séamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s Clonmel)
4. Donagh Maher (Burgess)
5. Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields – captain)
7. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)
8. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
9. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
10. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
11. Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha)
12. Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields)
13. Seamus Callanan (Drom-Inch)
14. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
15. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
Subs
24. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) for McCormack (inj) (10)
25. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Patrick Maher (60)
22. Alan Flynn (Kiladangan) for O’Dwyer (60)
20. Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for Brendan Maher (inj) (68)
26. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) for McCarthy (74)
Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow)
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Sad to see so many of them so young.
Also Kieran “jap” Finlay. Monaghan legend who won numerous county honours in the 80s. Father of Paul Finlay.
Steward will also be remembered for creating the iconic Kronk gym and coaching Tommy Hearns in the 80s. Lennox and the K brothers only followed from the 1990s onwards.
Rip Joe fraiser
Jimmy Steins — what an absolute legend. So sad to see him go so young. Must have been a difficult Christmas for his family and friends.