New York GAA Tipp rout Clare in second half

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Tipperary 5-9, Clare 1-13

It began as a reasonably even-sided senior hurling contest. At half time, only one point separated the sides, but midway through the second half it slowly turned into one-way traffic with the Tipperary forward line wreaking havoc on the Clare defense.

The game was a credit to both sides for the most part, with some great flowing play dominating proceedings, and neither side slipping up or giving the ball away.

Clare began on top with Dave Pilkington and John Kennedy both grabbing a pair of points each, though they were quickly matched by efforts from Tipp’s Mike Kennedy, Paul Hogan and Tony O’Brien.

Clare maintained control of the game, thanks to efforts from an on-fire John Kennedy and a disputed effort from Barney Breen. Breen’s high shot appeared to have gone over the bar, but one umpire deemed otherwise and, after some consultation, referee Dave Sims called a point for Clare.

The contest continued at a slower pace, possibly due to a burning sun glaring onto the playing surface. Following a lightening first fifteen minutes, both sides slipped down a couple of gears, neither able to move far ahead of the other in terms of scoring.

John Kennedy continued his streak in front of goal with another couple of efforts over the bar, but the half belonged to Tipperary’s John Madden who hit four points late in the first period to leave his side trailing by a single point, at eight points to seven.

Things changed however. The interval clearly gave the dehydrated players time to regroup and come up with new plans of action. A facial injury to Mike Kennedy resulted in a rearranging of the Tipp lineup, and a Clare point courtesy of John Kennedy.

Paul Hogan hit a point for Tipperary and the first goal of the game followed from the hurl of Tipp’s Keith Hennessy to gain the lead. Clare replied immediately with a goal from Sean Harvey to level the tie. This goal was largely due to a defensive mistake on the Tipp goal line.

Tipperary then found their stride. Declan O’Meara, having lost his hurl, booted the ball over the goal line and, within a minute, Paul Hogan compounded Clare’s misery by scoring another goal for his side to go further ahead.

John Kennedy hit two more for Clare, but there was no stopping the Tipperary forward line. Two more goals followed, registered by Hogan again, and Tony O’Brien to give Tipperary an unassailable lead.

Only for some good work in the backline by Marty McGlade, Hogan would have scored another goal in the last minute, when McGlade provided the confrontation in which Hogan’s hurl was broken, leaving him no option but to kick the ball — wide.

It was a convincing win for Tipperary, and Clare must really look to their next game to inject some stamina into their side in order to last the pace in the crazy summer weather.

Clare: Aidan O’Connor, Tony Burns, Noel McGovern, Marty McGlade, Dave Pilkington (0-2), Brian Adams, Sean Harvey (1-0), Seamus Pender, Eddie Flynn (0-1), John Kennedy (0-7), Tomas Cogley, Barney Breen (0-1), Darren Doherty (0-2). Subs: Sean Hennessy, Paul Burke.

Tipperary: Ian Duggan, Donal Cummins, John Kissane, Shane Ryan, Alan Slattery, Jim Lyons, John Madden (0-5), Keith Hennessy (1-0), John Slattery, Mike Kennedy (0-1), Declan O’Meara (1-0), Tony O’Brien (1-1), Paul Hogan (2-2). Sub: David Lonergan