Tipperary U20s triumph over Clare in Munster final amid controversial calls

Irish Examiner

14-05-2025

Munster U20 Hurling Championship: Tipperary 3-19 Clare 1-20
The day began with confirmation of player unrest in the Clare senior camp. The day concluded with Munster final defeat for their U20 class. A Wednesday to be put in the Banner bin.
For Tipp, a sweet five days. A restorative victory for their flagship team. An U20 Munster final victory that reinforces their thriving underage scene. Such is the talent in the Premier underage ranks, the performance was less than clinical and yet they still came away with a five-point winning margin.
After captain Sam O'Farrell signed off on his acceptance speech, the Premier faithful gathered in front of him chanted 'Tipp, Tipp, Tipp'. After an April of little cheer, their summer is suddenly packed with promise on more than one front.
The win here was more than a successful title defence. The win secured a 23rd provincial crown at this age-grade and took Tipp one clear of Cork at the head of the roll of honour. It was a win that emerged through a haze of controversial penalty calls in the second period.
The first went to Clare on 43 minutes. Sub Harry Doherty was adjudged to have been fouled as he, Eoin McMahon, and James Organ were denied in quick succession. Fred Hegarty nailed the penalty. The Banner 1-17 to 1-14 in front. The same player stroked over a free in the play after to shove the gap to four.
Then came an even bigger call. On 47 minutes, a slap by Jamie Moylan on Tipp centre-forward Conor Martin was deemed by referee Ciarán O'Regan to have denied a goal opportunity. Vexing Clare was that Eoghan Gunning dispossessed Martin directly after Moylan's contact.
A penalty to Tipp, a black card to Moylan. A Darragh McCarthy conversion, Clare down to 14 for 10 minutes. Brendan Cummins' charges clipped another 1-3 while Moylan was out of commission. That third goal was an Oisín O'Donoghue sideline not dealt with and eventually scrambled home by Conor English.
The earlier four-point deficit was a four-point lead, 3-17 to 1-19, when Moylan returned on 57 minutes. Fred Hegarty's 12th white flag provided a one-score game entering injury-time. Tipp, though, had finally hit stride. Composed in defence, troublesome further forward.
McCarthy, who failed to score from play throughout, struck back-to-back frees, the latter won by the outstanding O'Donoghue.
Clare struck back-to-back wides in first-half injury-time. Centre-back James Hegarty and corner-forward Michael Collins were off target. Had one of them gone over, it would have delivered interval stalemate.
As it was, that the Banner trailed only by the minimum at the break - 1-11 to 0-13 - was a wonder. The same as the semi-final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, their goalmouth lived a most charmed existence. And while Tipp succeeded where Cork did not in shaking the opposition net, a second wonder was how the Clare net had shook just once in the opening half hour.
Tipp's first goal chance presented itself 11 minutes in. Conor Martin to O'Donoghue to David Costigan. Goalkeeper Mark Sheedy equal to Costigan's drive, with the play then brought back for a free that Darragh McCarthy converted.
That free began an unanswered Tipp sequence of 1-6. From four down to 1-8 to 0-6 in front on 17 minutes.
The goal came from a second goal chance not taken that was then pulled back for a free. O'Donoghue fouled, English unable to raise a green flag during the subsequent advantage. It worked out for them in the end. McCarthy went short with the free on this occasion to O'Donoghue. His low drive caught out an unsuspecting Clare defence.
Cathal English, twice, Conor Martin, and Paddy McCormack added points. Clare's positive start now a distant memory.
A pair of frees from Hegarty, either side of a Daniel Costelloe point, settled Clare and reinserted them in the contest. In the ensuing three minutes, Clare could have been removed from the contest altogether. Paddy McCormack ratted the crossbar. O'Donoghue, with an open goal at his mercy, somehow swung the rebound over. In the play after that, McCormack kicked wide.
From six goal openings, five not taken. Even allowing for Eoghan Gunning's fine man-marking job on Darragh McCarthy, that Clare full-back line was again proving porous.
After a third quarter under the pump, Tipp, aided by a refereeing call and the late introduction of captain Sam O'Farrell, roared home. Dublin or Kilkenny await in the All-Ireland final.
Scorers for Tipperary: D McCarthy (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-8 frees); O O'Donoghue (1-3); C English (1-2); C Martin (0-3), P McCormack (0-2); J Egan (0-1).
Scorers for Clare: F Hegarty (1-12, 1-0 pen, 0-9 frees); J Organ, J O'Neill (0-2 each); D Costelloe, R Kilroy, S Boyce, M Collins (0-1 each).
TIPPERARY: E Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); A O'Halloran (Carrick Swan), P O'Dwyer (Killenaule),C O'Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill); D Ryan (Arravale Rovers), J Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), A Ryan (Arravale Rovers); J Egan (Moycarkey Borris), A Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); C English (Fr. Sheehys), C Martin (Cappawhite), D Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); P McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), D McCarthy (Toomevara), O O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs).
SUBS: S O'Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg) for D Ryan (44); J Ormond (JK Brackens) for Costigan (48); C Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch) for Daly (54); M Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Martin (60).
CLARE: M Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); J Cahill (Clooney-Quin), E Gunning (Broadford), F Ó Braoin (Sixmilebridge); J Moylan (Cratloe), J Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), E McMahon (St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield); D Costelloe (Ballyea), R Kilroy (Banner); F Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), J O'Neill (Clooney-Quin), J Organ (Corofin); M Collins (Clonlara), D Stritch (Clonlara), S Boyce (O'Callaghan's Mills).
SUBS: H Doherty (Clarecastle) for Boyce (40 mins); R Loftus (Éire Óg) for Organ (50); L Crotty (Scariff) for Collins (53); T Lohan (Cratloe) for Kilroy (60).
Referee: C O'Regan (Cork).