THE COMBINED reflex actions of goalie Brendan Cummins and full-back Paul Curran in deflecting over the crossbar a last gasp 72nd minute free, hit by Clare's Colin Ryan, deprived the Banner of securing a dramatic draw at the end of an extraordinary high-scoring Munster semi-final, of fluctuating fortunes, at Pairc na nGael, Limerick on Sunday last.
Phew! What a let off for Tipp! Their hurling followers had their hearts in their mouths before Cummins initially, and then Curran got the crucial touches to the bullet-like effort of the deadly Newmarket-on-Fergus marksman from about forty metres tha
t seemed destined for the roof of the net.
The save left just two points in the difference and, incredibly, Tipp were forced to cling for dear life to their precious lead in the dying seconds of game they should have wrapped up from an early stage.
Tipp surely made heavy work of it! They are left to ponder how they twice allowed Clare back from the dead to almost force a replay. In truth, they were in a position to steamroll a Clare side who were way off the pace for most of the opening period when they led by a whopping eleven points (2-10 to 0-5) after twenty seven minutes.
And while Mike McNamara's men recovered pretty well to cut the difference to six points, they again seemed on course for a crushing defeat when the fell nine points behind (3-14 to 1-11) in 47th minute. But as the intensity of the Tipp effort dropped Clare dipped once more their undoubted reservoir of spirit and came roaring back into contention with a string of unanswered scores to leave but two points in the difference at the end of normal time (3-18 to 1-21).
It speaks volumes for the momentum created by Clare that, incredibly, they outscored Tipp by 0-9 to 0-3 between the 47th and 70th minutes. Indeed, Tipp only managed one point from play in that twenty-three minute spell, from the prodigious young talent, Noel McGrath, who received 'Man of the Match' awards for his outstanding overall contribution of 0-7, (0-5 play, 0-1 free, 0-1 line ball ).
Eoin Kelly had scored two important points from frees in that period, and with the Mullinahone man, who is still struggling to regain top form after the long lay-off through injury, replaced by his brother Paul in 67th minute, Noel McGrath took over the free-taking duties.
In hindsight, the Loughmore-Castleiney youngster could not have scored a more important point from a free when he restored a three point advantage to Tipp in 71st minute, after Hugh Moloney who made an impact when introduced in attack in 63rd minute, had been fouled. Benny Dunne also toiled diligently when introduced.
Full match report on page 40 this week.
Tipperary- B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, C O'Brien; D Fanning (0-1), C O'Mahony, P Maher; J Woodlock (0-1), S McGrath; P Kerwick (0-3), S Callanan (1-0), J O'Brien (1-2); E Kelly (0-3), L Corbett (1-1), N McGrath (0-7).
Subs- B Maher for O'Mahony, W Ryan for Kerwick, B Dunne for S McGrath, H Moloney for Callanan, P Kelly for E Kelly.
Clare- P Brennan, P Vaughan, J McInerney, G O'Grady; P Donnellan, B Bugler, A Markham; B O'Connell, J Clancy (0-3); T Carmody (0-1), D McMahon (1-2), T Griffin (0-2); N Gilligan, D Barrett (0-1), C Ryan (0-12). Subs- B Nugent for Carmody, J Conlon (0-1) for Barrett, G O'Connell for Clancy.
Referee-J Owens (Wexford).
