The dress rehearsal passed without incident at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds yesterday. Tipperary landed the Allianz National Hurling League title and confirmed the current exuberant health of their attack. Clare for their part stayed the course without looking as sharp as their opponents and were it not for a litany of unconverted goal chances, might well have sprung a mild upset. For the most part this was an interesting, well-contested match which although it seldom threatened to erupt into a passion play, kept the attention of the 25,142 crowd. Both teams will be able to take a useful combination of encouragement and caution from proceedings as they focus on the Munster championship meeting on June 3rd.
Before the start Tipperary made one change, bringing John Leahy in for the injured John Carroll. This gave Nicky English and his selectors a welcome opportunity to run the rule over Leahy after his long injury lay-off just as Cyril Lyons had the same opportunity to view Sean McMahon, back after more than a month, in the second half.
The Mullinahone player responded with an energetic first half during which he showed few signs of being ring-rusty, got onto the breaks and cleared his line well. The arrival of Alan Markham subdued his influence and he wasn't as central to play after the interval but Leahy should be happy enough with the comeback. Backed by a moderate breeze, Clare quickly took the initiative. At the end of the first quarter, they led by 0-5 to 0-1. David Forde and Barry Murphy used their pace well in the corners, James O'Connor was again in fine form on the 40, directing play and winning the breaks.
The first intimation of Clares wastefulness came in the space of a couple of minutes going into the second quarter. Three goal chances went for nothing: Colin Lynch played a long ball into Niall Gilligan who beat the cover but lost possession; David Forde was just dispossessed on a solo burst through the defence; the same player again cut through, brought a great save out of Brendan Cummins before Tony Griffin doubled the ball wide. High on Tipperary's list of warm feelings about this match must be the way they survived this initial period. Having been under constant pressure and having failed to make much impression at the other end where for 22 minutes Eddie Enright was their only player to score, Tipperary sprang off the ropes.
Between the 23rd and 27th minutes, their forwards clicked and ran off four unanswered points to tie up the match at 0-6 apiece. In injury-time the sides were still level which would have been a dispiriting situation for Clare after having enjoyed so much possession.
By now Markham had come on for Gearoid Considine whose lively presence in the opening minutes was snuffed out by an early injury which necessitated his replacement in the 33rd minute. Clare finished the half strongly with three late points in little over a minute. This restored some perspective to the scoreboard but the margin of comfort disappeared almost as quickly at the start of the second half. Declan Ryan hadn't been as integral to the Tipperary attack in the first half as he normally is. His ability to win ball and lay it off has been a notable feature of the team's impressive forward displays in recent weeks. Yesterday, Brian Lohan had an excellent match winning nearly everything at full back and generally clearing as well as ever.
Yet it will have affronted the Clare captain's fastidious nature that such a forceful overall performance was stained by the concession of 1-1 to Ryan within just over a minute of the restart. A quick point on the restart was followed by a cracking finish to a chance created by Liam Cahill. Ryan broke through from deep and his goal gave Tipp an initiative they never really relinquished. Emphatically back in the match, Tipperary began to create the sort of irrepressible attacking moves that have characterised their play in the NHL this season. Once more, the statistics were impressive. Of the 1-15 scored from play, 113 came from the forwards. Again Lar Corbett made his mark, taking four points from play, three in the second half. So far the 18-year-old has passed all the escalating tests presented him but next month the serious stuff will begin.
Reservations about the defence will remain. Short most of his first-choice half backs, English will have, nonetheless, have been concerned at O'Connor's influence on the 40. He will also reflect on how caught his team was in the corners and how Gilligan, without looking on top of his game, still threatened so much.
In the 44th and 49th minutes, further goal chances arose. First Gilligan was sent in along the endline by Forde and again Cummins saved miraculously for a 65. Then the Tipperary goalkeeper saved again, this time from Markham. Despite these lapses, Clare kept within range of their opponents but in the final 10 minutes the match crept beyond them. Yet again a goal chance was spurned. With six minutes left, Markham opened up a chance for Forde and his shot bobbled up for Gilligan. Despite some muted appeals for a goal, Paul Ormond's clearance off the line was deemed good.
Tipperary 1-19: Kelly 0-5, two frees; Corbett 0-4; D Ryan 1-1; O'Leary, Enright 0-3 each; Dunne 0-2, both frees; O'Meara 0-1.
Clare 0-17: O'Connor 0-6, three frees; Gilligan 0-3, two frees; Baker, Markham 0-2 each; Lynch, D Forde, Murphy, McMahon, free, 0-1 each.
Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).
Attendance: 25,142.
