Tipperary 2-19
Clare 0-20
Eoin Brennan reports from Cusack Park
SECOND-HALF GOALS from Noel McGrath and James Woodlock saw Tipperary keep their quarter-final hopes very much alive in front of a healthy derby crowd of 7,363 in Cusack Park.
With hosts Clare without a victory in six league and championship games, Eamon O’Shea’s side exploited that lack of confidence by pouring more misery on their neighbours but required both goals at either end of the latter half to cement their latest points haul.
Tipperary essentially controlled matters from the outset though, breezing into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the 11th minute, with chief marksmen Seamus Callanan, John O’Dwyer and newcomer John McGrath all on target.
Clare did finally settled to reel in the visitors, mainly due to the scoring influence of centre-back Conor Ryan who would end the afternoon with five points from play.
However, Tipperary always seemed to have that extra gear when required, with a three point injury-time rally securing a 0-13 to 0-9 half-time advantage.
With Clare now having the aid of the conditions for the new half, it was the timing of Tipperary’s goal that kept the Banner at bay, with Noel McGrath’s 42nd minute strike cancelling three successive Colin Ryan frees to quell any revolt at 1-15 to 0-12.
Led by Conor Ryan, Clare did inevitably rally entering the final quarter, outscoring their opponents by 0-7 to 0-2 to slash the deficit to two, only for Tipperary to inflict a final hammer blow when Callanan cleverly put in James Woodlock to billow the net and extend Clare’s winless run to seven.
Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 0-7 (5f); John McGrath 0-5; John O’Dwyer 0-4 (2f); Noel McGrath, James Woodlock 1-0 each; Michael Breen 0-2; Jason Forde 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: Colin Ryan 0-8 (8f); Conor Ryan 0-5; Tony Kelly (1f), John Conlon 0-2 each; Shane O’Donnell, Conor McGrath, Colm Galvin 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY
1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)
2. Conor O’Mahony (Newport)
3. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty)
4. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
5. Michael Breen (Ballina)
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. Kieran Bergin (Killenaule)
9. James Woodlock (Drom & Inch)
10. Conor Kenny (Borris-Ileigh)
11. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
12. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane McDonaghs)
13. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
14. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)
15. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
CLARE
1. Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona)
2. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
4. David McInerney (Tulla)
5. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
6. Conor Ryan (Cratloe)
7. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber)
8. Patrick Donnellan (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
9. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
10. John Conlon (Clonlara)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
12. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
13. Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
14. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
15. Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)