Gaelic Games: Clare v Tipperary
TIPP WERE well fancied to beat Clare in both 2008 and ’09, but, on both occasions, they struggled to put up a score commensurate with their share of play.
Compared to that last meeting Tipp have 10 of the same team, but Clare have only six in a line-up that reflects manager Ger O’Loughlin’s desire to rebuild on the success of the 2009 All-Ireland under-21 victory.
Further evidence of this approach can be gleaned by those arriving early tomorrow afternoon when Niall Gilligan and Tony Carmody line out for the county intermediates against Cork.
Like any county in this situation, Clare need everything going right and that hasn’t happened.
Still dogged by Division Two status the team has lost Domhnall O’Donovan to injury and so lost a corner back who would have had the physical equipment to make a fist of marking Lar Corbett.
The All-Ireland champions’ fast moving, inter-changeable forward unit with its kinetic force and varied angles of attack threatens to expose comprehensively any hesitancy of touch on the ball.
Clare have some good forwards should Tipp lapse into the day -dreaming that Cork exploited, although Darach Honan’s ongoing fitness issues with a groin strain limit his ability to recapture the excellent scoring of the successful under-21 campaign at senior level.
TIPPERARY: B Cummins; J O’Keeffe, P Curran, M Cahill; D Young, C O’Mahony, Pádraic Maher; G Ryan, S McGrath; S Callanan, N McGrath, Patrick Maher; E Kelly (c), J O’Brien, L Corbett.
CLARE: P Brennan; P Vaughan (c), C Cooney, C Dillon; P O’Connor, J McInerney, P Donnellan; N O’Connell, J Clancy; J Conlon, F Lynch, C McInerney; D McMahon, D Honan, C McGrath.
Referee: J Owens (Wexford).
In the last episode: Third meeting in four years, most recently in the Munster semi-final in 2009. Then, Tipperary opened as if they were going to run riot, leading by eight after 10 minutes but the underdogs steadied to lose by four.
You bet:Tipp are 1-12 with Clare a distant 8-1.
On your marks:Much of the Tipp fireworks against Cork were lit by Séamus Callanan, who made a reassuring return from injury and ended up with five points from play after being switched to centre forward. James McInerney is named at centre back but is short of match practice.
Gaining ground:The counties' famous collisions in the late 1990s and early 2000s were played in Cork but more recent episodes have been in Limerick where Tipp have won the last three meetings. Only around 15,000 are expected.
Just the ticket: Covered stand €30, uncovered €25 and terrace €15. Family tickets available €30/€25 with accompanied children €5.
Crystal gazing: Tipp won't lose but Clare have had a tendency to outperform lowest expectations in this fixture.
