McGrath scorer in chief as Tipperary advance to Munster Under 21 Football Championship Final

27-03-2013

Tipperary                                            1-12

Clare                                                     0-07

On a freezing cold night at Semple Stadium, Thurles, and in front of a healthy crowd of 674 who braved the conditions, Tipperary advanced to the final of the 2013 Cadbury’s Munster Under 21 Football Championship with a comfortable victory over Clare.

Corner forward and ace marksman Liam McGrath was Man of the Match for the Tipperary side, contributing a match winning eight points in total, six from placed balls and two from play.  He kicked his scores off either foot and he was ever dangerous from open play and brought his colleagues in to the game at every opportunity.  Substitute Billy Hewitt also sent a strong signal to the management team with a two point salvo within minutes of coming in to the game.

For the defeated Banner men their tactic of playing the short passing game got them in to trouble on many occasions when in promising positions and the ball was turned over and the Tipperary defenders counter attacked with purpose.  The concession of a goal just before half time was a hammer blow for them but they battled gamely in the second half and can take heart from the fact that they more than held their own in this second period.

Both sides made one change from the teams selected with Liam Treacy coming in at centre forward in place of Philip Quirke for Tipperary and Podge Collins coming in at midfield in place of Darragh McDonagh for Clare.

The home side sprinted out of the blocks and McGrath kicked his team in to the lead in the 1^st minute after good approach work by replacement centre forward Treacy.  Clare responded and levelled the scores through corner forward Cathal Duggan before McGrath converted two more frees to give the home side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the 9^th minute.

Tipperary midfielder Steven O’Brien extended their lead with a great score from distance before Clare’s Duggan responded once more with a curling effort on the turn.  McGrath was on the mark again before centre back Seamus Kennedy played a captains role and kicked the score of the game after a good passing move that started in the Tipperary full back line.  The home side now lead by 0-6 to 0-2 by the 17^th minute.

Duggan kicked a further free to reduce the deficit once more to three points and they should have reduced it further in the 23^rd minute but were wide from a close in free.  This was an important miss at this juncture of the game.

McGrath continued on his scoring mission with further scores from a free and from play before full forward and dangerman Michael Quinlivan announced himself to the game when he cut inside and finished to the net.  There seemed to be no way back for the Clare men at this stage with Tipperary having extended their lead to 1-8 to 0-3 by the 28^th minute.

Credit to Clare who responded however and they reduced the deficit with a fisted point from play by wing forward Jamie Malone after good work to get in behind the Tipperary defence.  And they had a great goal opportunity in injury time at end of first half but Tipperary keeper Evan Comerford pulled off a great save from Malone once more to leave the home side leading at the break by 1-8 to 0-4.

Taking heart from their finish to the first half, Clare restarted on the front foot and reduced the deficit from the throw in with a converted free from centre forward Conor Cleary.  McGrath responded with a further free before Clare midfielder Podge Collins split the Tipperary defence with a pass to Malone who converted once more to leave the home side leading by 1-9 to 0-6 by the 37^th minute.

McGrath showed his prowess from the deadball with a further long range effort in the 38^th minute and over the next ten minutes both sides had opportunities that were not converted as the game began to become a bit ragged.  Tipperary had a further goal chance in the 48^th minute but centre forward Treacy shot straight at Clare keeper Darren Sexton.

Billy Hewitt then made an instant impact after his introduction in the 50^th minute and his two quickfire scores from play increased the Premier County’s lead to 1-12 to 0-7.  The game was now up for Clare but they did not throw in the towel and substitute Owen Cleary kicked their seventh and final score of the game in the 65^th minute to leave Tipperary comfortable winners on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-7.

Tipperary now advance to a Munster final meeting with reigning champions Cork in Thurles on April 10^th.  They will know that there is room for improvement after this performance but it always seemed like there was an extra gear there if they needed it and that is the way they will like it going in to that game against Cork who will be warm favourites.       

Teams and Scorers:

Tipperary: Evan Comerford, Paddy Dalton, Niall O’Sullivan, Conor O’Sullivan, Niall O’Meara, Seamus Kennedy(c) (1 pt), Dylan Fitzell, Steven O’Brien (1 pt), Ian Fahey, Bill Maher, Liam Treacy, Donagh Leahy, Liam McGrath (8 pts, 6 frees), Michael Quinlivan (1 gl), Shane Leahy

Replacements:  Michael O’Sullivan (for Niall O’Meara 42 mins), Jason Lonergan (for Bill Maher 50 mins), Billy Hewitt (for Liam Treacy 50 mins)( 2 pts), Jonathan Ryan (for Ian Fahey 65 mins), John O’Callaghan (for Dylan Fitzell 65 mins)

Clare: Darren Sexton, Anthony Downes, Conor Brennan, Stan Lineen, Craig O’Brien, Seanie Malone(c), Eoin Brew, Podge Collins, Ciaran Devitt, Darragh Bolton, Conor Cleary (1 free), Jamie Malone (2 pts), Cathal Duggan (3 pts, 1 free, Gearoid Looney, Seamus Lynch

Replacements: William Flynn (for Anthony Downes 46 mins), Owen Cleary (for Seamus Lynch 46 mins) (1 pt), Dale Masterson (for Ciaran Devitt 49 mins), Mikey O’Neill (for Podge Collins 52 mins), Liam Corry (for Darragh Bolton 65 mins)

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)

Man of the Match: Liam McGrath, Tipperary

One to Watch: Liam McGrath, Tipperary