It wasn’t the best first half performance from Clare really.
Two quickfire goals in the first half meant that they went in at halftime five points down but in honesty, they were playing second fiddle from the start.
Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor’s men were simply not up to the task on the day and one of their clear tactics was not paying off.
With Cork legend Donal Óg Cusack the counties goalkeeping coach and a selector, it is fair to think that he’d be heavily involved in goalkeeping tactics and it was evident what they were doing from puck outs.
For the most part, Clare goalkeeper Andrew Fahy was hitting short puck outs to his half back line with little joy and it caused quite a stir.
Donal Og's short puck out strategy failing miserably for Clare.
— James Irwin (@OfficialBigJim) July 22, 2017
Donal óg's puck out strategy coming apart in the House that Frank built. #PaircUiChaoimh #ClarevTipp
— Parthalán Cremin (@ParthalanC) July 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/MikeMcCarthy67/status/888776203301203968
Donal Óg's fingerprints are all over this short puck out nonsense.
— Richie (@richie_dunne) July 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/seancearnaigh/status/888777709815570432
Some 1 give Donal Og his P45… #TippvClare https://t.co/WlQdSiirwo
— Patrick McCabe (@Montevidian) July 22, 2017
After half time, Tipperary came out and put a lot of pressure on the Clare puck out and with that, they were forced to go long.
In fairness to Clare, they played a lot better in the second half but lost by six points in a score line of 0-28 to 3-16. They really made a match of it come to the end but it wasn’t to be for the 2013 All-Ireland Champions.
