Liam Sheedy's second term in charge of Tipperary got off to a winning start as new captain Seamus Callanan blasted 2-07 to secure an opening night win in Semple Stadium.

Callanan struck in the second-half after Tipperary led by 0-13 to 1-03 at the break, with Clare losing Tony Kelly to a red card early in the second half. 

Tipperary, having opted to play with the wind and rain behind them in the opening half, had their hopes of a flying start were dashed when Clare goalkeeper Donal Tuohy produced a superb save which broke his hurley when he saved a third minute penalty from Callanan after he himself had been fouled.

Nevertheless, Callanan and Tipperary kept their composure and the Drom and Inch man went on to hit five frees from five in the opening half before turning the screw in the third quarter.

Noel McGrath scored three points in the opening half, two of from play and the first from a superb sideline on the left after ten minutes, with Padraic Maher reveling in his sweeper role at the back.

It took Clare 14 minutes to get their first score against the wind when Niall Deasy pointed a free from close range.

Tipperary led by 0-09 to 0-02 after 28 minutes when the impressive Colin Guilfoyle was fouled by Cathal Barrett and Deasy stepped forward and blasted a penalty into the bottom left corner.

Willie Connors and McGrath responded for Tipperary and when Kelly hit back for Clare, efforts from Michael Breen and Callanan left Sheedy’s men seven points in front at the interval.

Podge Collins and Kelly hit early points for Clare after the restart but then Kelly was sent off for a high challenge on Padraic Maher.

Tipperary took over and sealed the win when Callanan hit 2-01. He pointed a free and then Jake Morris and Robert Byrne combined to set him up and the captain blasted to the net from close range after 50 minutes.

He struck for a second inside a minute, this time Morris supplied the final pass to Callanan and the Tipperary skipper again beat Tuohy from close range.

The goals pushed Tipperary ahead by 2-14 to 1-06 going into the final quarter and they were never really threatened after that as Sheedy’s return was marked with a deserved win

Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Padraic Maher, Donagh Maher; Alan Flynn (0-01), Ronan Maher, Barry Heffernan; Michael Breen (0-01), Robert Byrne (0-01); Dan McCormack, Noel McGrath (0-03, 0-01sl), Patrick Maher; Willie Connors (0-01), Seamus Callanan (2-07, 0-06f, 0-01 pen), Jake Morris (0-02).

Subs used: Mark Kehoe for McGrath (60), John O’Dwyer for Morris (63), Niall O’Meara for McCormack (69), Killian O’Dwyer for D Maher (69), Cian Darcy for Byrne (70).

Clare: Donal Tuohy; Jason McCarthy, David McInerney, Jack Browne; Aidan McCarthy, Conor Cleary, Cathal Malone; Shane Golden, Tony Kelly (0-02, 0-01sl); Diarmuid Ryan, Niall Deasy (1-01, 1-00 pen, 0-01f), Ryan Taylor; Colin Guilfoyle, John Conlon (0-01), Michael O'Neill.

Subs used: Podge Collins (0-01) for O’Neill (36), Peter Duggan (0-04, 0-03f, 0-01 ’65) for Deasy (36), Colm Galvin for J McCarthy (36), Mike O’Malley (0-02, 0-01f, 0-01 ’65) for Taylor (53), Ian Galvin for Conlon (63).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).