Clare emerged victorious in this afternoon's Waterford Crystal Cup final, beating defending champions Tipperary by five points at Ogonnelloe.
Alan Markham's goal, struck 19 minutes into the second half, was the crucial score as the Banner men won the early-season competition for the first time.
Tipperary led 0-03 to 0-00 early on and added a 28th-minute goal through Patrick Maher, with Clare responding through Colin Ryan (0-04) and Barry Nugent (0-01).
Ryan was called into the Clare side in place of Caimin Morey (flu) and was the top scorer with 0-06.
Clare took over in the second half, beginning it with points from Tony Carmody and Brendan Bugler. Hugh Maloney soon added to Tipp's tally but Clare then found an extra gear.
Tony Griffin and Carmody were involved in the build-up to Markham's clinching goal, as Mike McNamara's side secured silverware ahead of their National League opener against Limerick on 8 February.
Tipperary, who were gunning for their third successive Waterford Crystal Cup triumph in as many years, were left ruing a series of first half wides as they failed to turn pressure into points.
In all, Liam Sheedy's men hit seven wides in the opening half-hour and should have been much further ahead at half-time than 1-04 to 0-05.
Tipp were 0-03 to 0-00 ahead by the seventh minute with Maloney and Seamus Hennessy (0-02) chipping in with points.
Late inclusion Ryan got Clare up and running, pointing from both play and placed balls, but full-forward Maher then gathered a long ball in from Benny Dunne to crash home the visitors' only goal.
Carmody and Bugler levelled for Clare, just minutes after the restart, at 1-04 to 0-07. Hennessy replied for Tipp but Clare were building up a head of steam and successive points from Ryan, Niall Gilligan and Tony Griffin proved that.
A free-flowing move, which started with Gerry Quinn, ended with Markham slipping the ball past Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins for his 49th-minute goal.
The Clare team pieced together some excellent passing as Griffin, Carmody and Gilligan were all involved before Markham foiled the visitors' defence and Cummins.
It was a score to warm the hearts of the majority of the 1,237-strong crowd on a chilly day when no yellow cards were brandished, and Clare showed they could very well be in contention for more silverware in the coming months.
