Tipperary 0-28 Clare 0-21

Tipperary’s greater all round physical strength proved decisive inthis division 1A hurling league tie at Semple stadium in Thurles today.

They took control in the second half and while Clare made them battle all the way to the finish, the premier outfit were deserving of victory, their third in as many outings in this campaign.

Despite playing against the breeze, Tipperary made the better start and raced into a five point lead after just seven minutes. A further two minutes elapsed before Clare had their first score, a point from Podge Collins.

From here on Clare showed steady improvement and when the half time whistle sounded they were ahead by the minimum margin,0-11 to 0-10.

The winners again made the better start to the second half and hit the first three points to open a two point lead. Podge Collins again was Clare’s first scorer in the half by the mid point of which the winners had opened a three point lead, 0-17 to 0-14.

They were seven clesd with ten minutes to gobut Clare hit three in a row and the winner’s lead was back to three with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Tipperary, however, weren’t to be denied and they hit four in a row in three minutes to seal victory and maintain their place at the top of the league table.

While disappointed with the result, Clare will be pleased with some aspects including the form of substitute Ian Galvin who hit three points when introduced.

Clare’s next outing is a home tie in Cusack park on Sunday against Dublin and a win here will keep their hopes of avoiding the relegation play off alive

Scorers; Tipperary; John McGrath (0-10),John O’Dwyer (0-6), Noel McGrath, Steven O’Brien (0-3) each; Ronan Maher, Brendan Maher, Niall O’Meara, Paul Flynn,Sean Curran, Dan McCormack (0-1) each

Clare; David Reidy (0-6), John Conlon (0-4) Podge Collins Ian Galvin (0-3) each Aaron Cunninghan (0-2); Cathal McInerney,Seadna Morey Jason McCarthy (0-1)each

Tipperary; Darragh Mooney; Joe O’Dwyer, Tomas Hamill, Donagh Maher; Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher, Tomas Padraic Maher; Brendan Maher, Barry Heffernan; Stephen O’Brien, Niall O’Meara, Noel McGrath; John O’Dwyer, John McGrath,Aidan McCormack;

Subs; Willie Ryan for Kennedy; Michael Breen for B.Maher; Dan McCormack for O’Meara; Paul Flynn for McCormack; Sean Curran for Heffernan

Clare; Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); Oisín O’Brien (Clonlara), Cian Dillon (Crusheen), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Conor Cleary (Miltown, St. Josephs), Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge); David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona), David Reidy (Éire Óg); Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones), Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge), John Conlon (Clonlara); Podge Collins (Cratloe), Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones), Cathal McInerney (Cratloe)

Subs; Shane McNamara for O’Brien; Ian Galvin for Cunningham; Jason McCarthy for Shanahan; Bobby Duggan for Shanagher; Pat Donnellan for Reidy

Referee—Barry Kelly, Westmeath

By Seamus Hayes