Tipperary defeated Clare by 2-19 to 0-20 in Round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A on March 8th in Cusack Park, Ennis.
Video – Noel McGrath scores Tipperary’s first goal
.@TipperaryGAA too strong for @GaaClare who continue search for first #AllianzLeagues pts #GAA http://t.co/0NioUwN8k0 pic.twitter.com/Ldm8wamECy
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 8, 2015
D1A Hurling: Clare slump to third straight loss
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION IA: CLARE 0-20 TIPPERARY 2-19
Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare slumped to a third successive Allianz Hurling League Division 1A defeat this afternoon. The Banner County are staring at the prospect of a relegation play-off after Tipperary claimed a five-point victory at Cusack Park.
The visitors had second half goals from Noel McGrath and James Woodlock in Ennis as they followed up on their Galway success last time out with another crucial win. In the process, Tipp eased their own relegation fears and now have their sights firmly set on a quarter-final slot.
Séamus Callanan top-scored for the visitors, and was booked, on an afternoon that saw John McGrath shine. Noel’s younger brother helped himself to five points from play – a haul matched by Clare’s dominant centre back Conor Ryan, who constantly got forward to support the Clare attack.
At half-time, Tipp were 0-13 to 0-9 clear in front of 7,363 spectators, with a blistering end to the first half opening up some real breathing space. Tipp were 0-10 to 0-9 in front before John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer landed a free to open a two-point gap.
And that advantage was extended by a Michael Breen point from distance, before the wing-back fed Callanan for his sixth point of the half. Tipp quickly surged six points clear on the resumption as Breen struck again before John McGrath added another for Eamon O’Shea’s visitors, now playing against the breeze into the Town End.
Clare launched a revival that took them to within three points as Colin Ryan pointed three frees but Noel McGrath’s 44th minute goal knocked the wind out of Clare’s sails. Clare, to their credit, kept fighting and Tony Kelly forced a good save from Darren Gleeson in the 54th minute.
And as the home supporters urged their side on, Clare were within striking distance again, just two points down, when Conor Ryan banged over a quickfire brace of scores, 0-19 to 1-18. But Tipp closed the game out when Callanan’s beautiful pass cracked open the Clare defence, allowing Woodlock a clear run on goal.
The combative midfielder struck a shot towards Patrick Kelly’s top corner and while the Clare netminder got a stick to it, he couldn’t keep the ball out and Tipp had their match-clinching second goal.
***
Scorers for Tipperary: S Callanan 0-7 (5f), J McGrath 0-5, J O’Dwyer 0-4 (2f), N McGrath & J Woodlock 1-0 each, M Breen 0-2, J Forde 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: C Ryan 0-8f, C Ryan 0-5, T Kelly (1f) & J Conlon 0-2 each, C Galvin, C McGrath & S O’Donnell 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; C Barrett, C O’Mahony, C O’Brien; M Breen, P Maher, R Maher; K Bergin, J Woodlock; C Kenny, J O’Dwyer, N O’Meara; N McGrath, S Callanan, J McGrath. Subs: J Forde for Kenny (50), G Ryan for O’Meara (57), S McGrath for N McGrath (61), S Bourke for J McGrath (66), T Stapleton for Woodlock (70+3).
CLARE: P Kelly; P Flanagan, C Dillon, D McInerney; B Bugler, C Ryan, P O’Connor; P Donnellan, C Galvin; C Ryan, T Kelly, S Golden; C McGrath, S O’Donnell, J Conlon. Subs: A Cunningham for Golden (h.t.), S Morey for Donnellan (62), C Cleary for Bugler (65).
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
***
Report: Jackie Cahill for GAA.ie
Emphatic win for Tipperary as Clare sink | http://t.co/PwLUWINfi5 (RMC) pic.twitter.com/FYlUTbkjuJ
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) March 8, 2015
Fixture Details
08.03.2015 (Sun)
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A 2015 Round 3
Cusack Park, Ennis 14:00
An Clár v Tiobraid Árann
Referee: Brian Gavin (Uíbh Fhailí)
Team News
The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Clare in Cusack Park, Ennis in round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A next Sunday, March 8th, has been announced. It shows three changes to the team that started the last fixture against Galway. Noel McGrath replaces the injured Denis Maher in attack, while Conor O’Mahony and James Woodlock also return to the starting fifteen since their last outing in Parnell Park in the first round.
An interesting feature to the side is that of two sets of brothers lining out; Padraic and Ronan Maher in the half back line while the inside forward line comprises of the McGrath brothers, Noel and John.
Darren Gleeson (Portroe), Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty), Michael Breen (Ballina), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Kieran Bergin (Killenaule), James Woodlock (Drom & Inch), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Brendan Maher Capt. (Borris-Ileigh), Jason Forde (Silvermines), Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
Match Coverage
This game will be shown live on TG4
This Sunday it's @GaaClare v @TipperaryGAA live from 13.30 followed by full deferred coverage of @OfficialCorkGAA v @Kerry_Official #gaa
— GAA BEO TG4 (@GAA_BEO) March 5, 2015
By Jonathan Cullen
Sun 8th Mar
