Tipperary claim Munster double

Tipperary 1-16 Clare 1-12: TIPPERARY WON a first Munster MHC title since 2007 as they overcame Clare at Páirc Uí­ Chaoimh yesterday. Though a six-point half-time lead was eaten into by a resurgent Clare in the second half, Tipp were always able to respond and they always retained a least a two-point advantage.

Clare began brightly though, an early Bobby Duggan free followed by a goal from their most impressive forward, Shane O’Donnell, in the third minute.

Tipp settled, however, with John McGrath and Bill Maher getting on top in midfield, and four points from McGrath helped them to forge into the lead, 0-6 to 1-2, after 16 minutes. While they were the better side by this stage, however, wasteful shooting was letting them down at times.

Stephen Cahill was another who was shining in attack for Tipp, scoring three fine points, and in the 29th minute he added a goal, firing home when Jack Shelly knocked down a Mark McCarthy delivery from the left.

That made it 1-10 to 1-2, but two frees from Duggan left Clare in contention at half-time, and after the opening 10 minutes of the second half they had cut the gap to three points, Niall Deasy and Duggan with two points each while Jamie Shanahan got one.

Deasy’s third in the 42nd minute left it 1-12 to 1-10 as Tipp grew nervy, and when they were awarded a penalty after Bill Maher was fouled, McGrath blasted over the bar. Deasy and Shanahan continued to lead the Clare charge, and the former’s point brought them to within two again in the 57th minute, but McGrath converted two late frees to ensure Tipp won, giving them a Munster minor double.

TIPPERARY:P Maher; J Peters, M Breen, R Maher; D Fitzelle, T Hamill, B Heffernan (0-1); J McGrath (0-7, two frees one penalty), B Maher; T Gallagher (0-1), J Shelly, S O'Brien (0-1); S Ryan, M McCarthy (0-3, two frees), S Cahill (1-3). Subs: T Fox for Heffernan (38 mins), K Slattery for Ryan (43 mins), P Kirwan for Fitzelle (47 mins).

CLARE:E Quilligan; S O'Brien, B Carey, G Ryan; A McGuane, C Cleary, E Quirke; D Conroy, A Morey; S O'Donnell (1-1), N Deasy (0-4), S Taylor; B Duggan (0-5, three frees), J Shanahan (0-2, one frees), C Deasy. Subs: A O'Gorman for Morey (23 mins), J Malone for C Deasy (36 mins), S Ward for Conroy (48 mins).

Referee: C Lyons (Cork).