The Conor Whelan show earns Clare U20s victory over Tipperary
Conor Whelan of Clare. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Tipperary’s first defeat of the Munster U20 round-robin was not enough to halt their direct progress to the provincial decider.
The visiting Banner required a seven-point victory to jump from third to first in the round-robin table. What their one-point winning margin did achieve was a home semi-final against champions Cork next Friday.
Trailing by the minimum entering the two minutes of time added on, Clare knew that if they did not swiftly find two white flags then it would be they who were on the road to Cork for the semi-final.
They found the two white flags. Who else but Conor Whelan delivered, the corner-forward converting successive fouls on substitutes Eoin McMahon and Liam Crotty to bring his tally to a bulging 0-16 for the evening.
The opening half of this final round-robin fixture had been the Conor Whelan show. Everyone else was either an audience member or bit-part actor.
Tipperary’s troubled full-back line was powerless to prevent their casting as spectators. Chris O’Donnell, Aaron O’Halloran, and Podge O’Dwyer were all sent into Whelan’s orbit at various stages of the opening half. None enjoyed any bit of success.
Clare finished the half with 0-11 and four in front. Whelan finished the half with 0-10. His was a perfect split. Five from play, five from the placed ball. His five from play had been registered as early as the 21st minute.
It wasn’t that the Whitegate youngster was untouchable, it was more he was unstoppable once the sliotar was in the paw.
Niall O’Farrell was the other Clare forward to write his name beside Whelan’s on a scantily populated first-half scoresheet. Whelan’s two inside colleagues, Jack O’Neill and Michael Collins, won frees that he converted. Further back, sweeper James Hegarty was made to look very effective by the miscalculated Tipp clearances constantly sent to his postcode.
Although four behind at the break, the home side had been much the brighter at throw-in. Brighter, but not accurate.
A pair of Darragh McCarthy frees and white flag each from Oisín O’Donoghue and Paddy McCormack had Brendan Cummins’ side 0-4 to 0-1 in front eight minutes in. By that juncture, though, they’d also recorded three wides, dropped two more short, and had a goal effort that O'Donoghue should have sent under rather than over the crossbar.
The lively McCormack had three from play struck when he departed on 20 minutes. Whelan had long wrestled momentum towards the Banner cause. From the 10th minute to half-time, he outscored his hosts 0-9 to 0-3.
The main man endured a more ordinary start to the second period, sending wide a pair of frees. They arrived after an O’Donoghue goal on 34 minutes had put a sizeable dent in their advantage.
The second period wasn’t hectic on quality, dotted with mistakes and misses. Tipp outgunning their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 from the 41st to the 50th minute - thanks largely to the placed-ball accuracy of McCarthy and goalkeeper Eoin Horgan - had the home side 1-13 to 0-15 ahead.
Clare 'keeper Mark Sheedy denied Senan Butler to ensure the gap did not grow further. Whelan surged again at the finish to ensure semi-final home comforts. Their winning streak ended, Tipp still skip on to the final.
C Whelan (0-16, 0-10 frees); R Keane, N O’Farrell (0-1 each).
D McCarthy (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 ‘65); O O’Donoghue (1-1); P McCormack (0-3); E Horgan (0-1 free), S O’Farrell, C Martin, S Butler (0-1 each).
M Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); J Cahill (Clooney/Quin), E Maxted (Clooney/Quin), E Gunning (Broadford); R Keane (Killanena), J Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona), J Moylan (Cratloe); R O’Connor (Feakle), S Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona); R Kilroy (Banner), J O’Neill (Clooney/Quin), N O’Farrell (Broadford); M Collins (Clonlara), J Organ (Corofin), C Whelan (Whitegate).
Subs: S Dunford (Tubber) for Kilroy (51); E McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield) for Maxted (54); D Stritch (Clonlara) for Keane (56); L Crotty (Scariff) for Collins, J Doherty (Clarecastle) for Organ (both 59).
E Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); C O’Donnell (Ballylooby Castlegrace), A O'Halloran (Carrick Swan), P O'Dwyer (Killenaule); R Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), B Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle), J Collins (Ballina); S O'Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), A Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); C English (Fr Sheehys), C Martin (Cappawhite), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs); S Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash), P McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), D McCarthy (Toomevara).
Subs: E Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill) for McCormack (20, temporary); M Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Connolly (HT); C Foley (Borrisokane) for Daly (62).
C O’Regan (Cork).
