Gaelic Games

Clare Under-21 hurlers defeat Tipperary in extra-time

Shane O’Donnell crowns comeback with late goal to wrap up the win

Tipperary’s Dan McCormack and Clare’s David Reidy during their Munster hurling under-21 semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis, Co Clare. Photograph: Inpho
Tipperary’s Dan McCormack and Clare’s David Reidy during their Munster hurling under-21 semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis, Co Clare. Photograph: Inpho
Thu Jul 17 2014 - 06:00

Clare 5-19

Tipperary 1-25

After-extra-time

Four days on from the shock championship exit by their seniors, the Clare under-21 hurlers came out the right side of an extra-time epic to remain in with a chance of winning three All-Ireland titles back-to-back.

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Seven of last night's team featured against Wexford in the replay last Saturday and goals from two of those seniors, Aaron Cunningham and Peter Duggan, helped Clare to a 2-6 to 0-10 half-time advantage.

But after Tadhg Gallagher found the net for Tipp in the second half, Cunningham wrapped up the win for Clare with his second goal in extra-time.

Some fine work deep in his own half from Tony Kelly freed Cunningham to hit the first goal into Paul Maher's top corner in the fifth minute, which gave the Banner men a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.

Two minutes later Duggan flicked to the net as Clare looked likely to run riot, but Jason Forde kept the Tipp in touch with five first-half frees which meant they only trailed by two at half-time.

McGrath loss

The loss of Liam McGrath at half-time with a nasty looking ankle injury didn’t disrupt the Tipperary challenge though, and points from Forde,

Tom Fox

and Colin O’Riordan saw them draw level soon after.

Bobby Duggan gave Clare the lead with a 37th-minute free, but Tipp struck a big blow two minutes later when Gallagher rattled the net following a great turnover from Forde. Three points in a row saw Tipp move into a four-point lead, but after David Reidy goaled from Peter Duggan's rebounded effort extra-time ensued.

A red card for John Meagher in the 60th minute following a clash with Peter Duggan mattered little as Tipp returned to 15 players in extra-time, but after Cunningham goaled, Shane O’Donnell crowned his comeback with a late goal to wrap up the win.

CLARE: K Hogan; J Colleran, J Browne, S Morey; G O'Connell (0-2), C Cleary, J Shanahan (0-2); C Galvin (0-3), T Kelly; P Duggan (1-1), S McGrath, A O'Neill; A Cunningham (2-2), D Reidy (1-1), B Duggan (0-8, three frees, three 65s). Subs: E Enright for McGrath (36 mins), S Gleson for O'Neill (42 mins), S O'Brien for O'Connell (70 mins), S O'Donnell (1-0) for P Duggan (72 mins), P Fitzgerald for B Duggan (77 mins).

TIPPERARY: P Maher; C Barrett, M Breen, T Fox (0-1); R Maher (0-1), J Meagher, T Hamill; S Kennedy (0-1), B Maher (0-1); C O Riordan (0-3), L McGrath (0-1), D McCormack (0-2); S Cahill (0-1), J Forde (0-12, seven frees, one sl), S Maher (0-1). Subs: T Gallagher (1-0) for S Maher (26 mins), D Fitzelle for L McGrath (half-time), C Hammersley (0-1) for Kennedy (56 mins), B Heffernan for Meagher (60 mins, sent off), S O'Brien for Gallagher (70 mins).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).