Clare 0-20 Tipperary 2-19
Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare sunk deeper into Allianz Hurling Division 1A relegation trouble at Cusack Park this afternoon as visitors Tipperary boosted their quarter-final credentials.
Second-half goals from Noel McGrath and James Woodlock helped to cement a five-point victory for the Premier County in Ennis as Clare slumped to a third defeat from three outings.
John McGrath, younger brother of Noel, scored five points for Tipp in front of 7,363 spectators, a tally matched by Clare centre-back Conor Ryan.
At half-time, Tipperary were 0-13 to 0-09 clear, with a blistering end to the first half opening up some real breathing space.
Tipperary were 0-10 to 0-09 in front before John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer landed a free to open a two-point gap.
And that advantage was extended by a Michael Breen point from distance, before the wing-back fed top scorer Callanan for his sixth point of the half.
Tipperary quickly surged six points clear on the resumption as Breen struck again before John McGrath added another for Eamon O’Shea’s visitors, now playing against the breeze into the Town End.
Clare launched a revival that took them to within three points as Colin Ryan pointed three frees but Noel McGrath’s 44th-minute goal knocked the wind out of Clare’s sails.
Clare, to their credit, kept fighting and Tony Kelly forced a good save from Darren Gleeson in the 54th minute.
As the home supporters urged their side on, Clare were within striking distance again, just two points down, when Conor Ryan banged over a quickfire brace of scores.
But Tipperary closed the game out when Callanan’s beautiful pass cracked open the Clare defence, allowing Woodlock a clear run on goal.
The combative midfielder struck a shot towards Patrick Kelly’s top corner and while the Clare netminder got a stick to it, he couldn’t keep the ball out and Tipp had their match-clinching second goal.
Scorers for Tipperary: S Callanan 0-07 (5f), J McGrath 0-05, J O’Dwyer 0-04 (2f), N McGrath & J Woodlock 1-00 each, M Breen 0-02, J Forde 0-01
Scorers for Clare: C Ryan 0-08f, C Ryan 0-05, T Kelly (1f) & J Conlon 0-02 each, C Galvin, C McGrath & S O’Donnell 0-01 each
Tipperary: D Gleeson; C Barrett, C O’Mahony, C O’Brien; M Breen, P Maher, R Maher; K Bergin, J Woodlock; C Kenny, J O’Dwyer, N O’Meara; N McGrath, S Callanan, J McGrath
Subs: J Forde for Kenny (50), G Ryan for O’Meara (57), S McGrath for N McGrath (61), S Bourke for J McGrath (66), T Stapleton for Woodlock (70+3)
Clare: P Kelly; P Flanagan, C Dillon, D McInerney; B Bugler, C Ryan, P O’Connor; P Donnellan, C Galvin; C Ryan, T Kelly, S Golden; C McGrath, S O’Donnell, J Conlon
Subs: A Cunningham for Golden (h.t.), S Morey for Donnellan (62), C Cleary for Bugler (65)
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)
