TIPPERARY crushed Clare by eleven points at Semple Stadium this afternoon to book their place in the Allianz NHL Division 1 semi-finals.
The Premier County will meet the winners of the Division 1B final in the last four – with Clare condemned to a relegation play off against Cork.
Eoin Kelly rolled back the years with a vintage display in front of 5,459 spectators at a bitterly cold Semple Stadium.
Kelly scored 2-8 – split evenly between each half – as the six-time Allstar chipped in with a virtuoso attacking display.
There was also another goal for 2010 Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett as his renaissance continues apace.
Corbett took advantage of Patrick Kelly’s goalkeeping error in the 45th minute to net from close range.
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And Kelly was at fault against five minutes from time as Eoin Kelly’s long-range free somehow found its way into the Clare net, with the Banner County netminder and full-back David McInerney in a muddle.
Tipp were full value for this win and despite registering 12 wides, this display was a good deal better than their showing last weekend against Waterford, when Tipp blew a five-point lead and ended up losing by one.
Paddy Stapleton was superb at right corner back for Tipp while Brendan Maher scored two points from midfield – one of them brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Kelly when a goal looked certain.
Shane Bourke fired over four points from wing-forward and Noel McGrath picked off loose ball to knock over three.
Domhnall O’Donovan did his best to stem the haemorrhage but Clare, despite playing with the breeze in the second half, never threatened a fightback.
Clare, who finished with eleven wides, managed just 1-6 from play – including Tony Kelly’s consolation goal in stoppage time.
Colin Ryan top-scored with eight points from the visitors – all from placed balls – on an afternoon that boss Davy Fitzgerald will want to forget quickly.
Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan and Domhnall O’Donovan of Clare.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Scorers for Tipperary: Eoin Kelly 2-8 (1-7f), Lar Corbett 1-1, Shane Bourke 0-4, Noel McGrath 0-3, Brendan Maher 0-2, Michael Cahill 0-1. Scorers for Clare: Colin Ryan 0-8 (0-7f, 0-1 ’65), Tony Kelly 1-1, John Conlon 0-2, Seadna Morey, Conor Ryan, Fergal Lynch 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Darren Gleeson (Portroe); Paddy Stapleton (Borrisoleigh), Paul Curran (Mullinahone), Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields); Conor O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields); Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch); Shane Bourke (JK Brackens), Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule); Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney).
Subs: Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dorrha) for O’Dwyer (half-time), James Woodlock (Drom & Inch) for S McGrath (48), John O’Brien (Toomevara) for Callanan (53), Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons) for O’Mahony (66), Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Kelly (70).
CLARE: Patrick Kelly (Inagh/Kilnamona); Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara), David McInerney (Tulla), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Patrick Donnellan (O’Callaghan Mills), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber); Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Sean Collins (Cratloe), Shane O’Donnell (Eire Og, Ennis), John Conlon (Clonlara).
Subs: Fergal Lynch (Clooney-Quin) for O’Connell (half-time), Conor McGrath (Cratloe) for Collins (45), Enda Barrett (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Conor Ryan (65), Darach Honan (Clonlara) for O’Donnell (66).
Division 1A HL: Lar on the mark as Tipperary defeat Clare
Tipperary 3-19
Clare 1-14
TIPPERARY crushed Clare by eleven points at Semple Stadium this afternoon to book their place in the Allianz NHL Division 1 semi-finals.
The Premier County will meet the winners of the Division 1B final in the last four – with Clare condemned to a relegation play off against Cork.
Eoin Kelly rolled back the years with a vintage display in front of 5,459 spectators at a bitterly cold Semple Stadium.
Kelly scored 2-8 – split evenly between each half – as the six-time Allstar chipped in with a virtuoso attacking display.
There was also another goal for 2010 Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett as his renaissance continues apace.
Corbett took advantage of Patrick Kelly’s goalkeeping error in the 45th minute to net from close range.
And Kelly was at fault against five minutes from time as Eoin Kelly’s long-range free somehow found its way into the Clare net, with the Banner County netminder and full-back David McInerney in a muddle.
Paddy Stapleton was superb at right corner back for Tipp while Brendan Maher scored two points from midfield – one of them brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Kelly when a goal looked certain.
Shane Bourke fired over four points from wing-forward and Noel McGrath picked off loose ball to knock over three.
Domhnall O’Donovan did his best to stem the haemorrhage but Clare, despite playing with the breeze in the second half, never threatened a fightback.
Clare, who finished with eleven wides, managed just 1-6 from play – including Tony Kelly’s consolation goal in stoppage time.
Colin Ryan top-scored with eight points from the visitors – all from placed balls – on an afternoon that boss Davy Fitzgerald will want to forget quickly.
Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan and Domhnall O’Donovan of Clare.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
TIPPERARY: Darren Gleeson (Portroe); Paddy Stapleton (Borrisoleigh), Paul Curran (Mullinahone), Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields); Conor O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields); Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch); Shane Bourke (JK Brackens), Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule); Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney).
Subs: Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dorrha) for O’Dwyer (half-time), James Woodlock (Drom & Inch) for S McGrath (48), John O’Brien (Toomevara) for Callanan (53), Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons) for O’Mahony (66), Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Kelly (70).
CLARE: Patrick Kelly (Inagh/Kilnamona); Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara), David McInerney (Tulla), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Patrick Donnellan (O’Callaghan Mills), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber); Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Sean Collins (Cratloe), Shane O’Donnell (Eire Og, Ennis), John Conlon (Clonlara).
Subs: Fergal Lynch (Clooney-Quin) for O’Connell (half-time), Conor McGrath (Cratloe) for Collins (45), Enda Barrett (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Conor Ryan (65), Darach Honan (Clonlara) for O’Donnell (66).
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
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Allianz League Clare GAA Davy Fitzgerald Eoin Kelly Hurling Lar Corbett Tipp Top Tipperary GAA