Tipperary's Liam MacCarthy Cup defence looks all but over as Clare secured their All-Ireland Series progression with a resounding 11-point thumping in front of 32,327 fans at FBD Semple Stadium.
Far from a fortress, it’s the fourth time in a row the Banner have emerged victorious from a trip to play Tipp in Thurles.
With the game long decided, it was announced that a burst water main was preventing fans seeking an early departure from using the main exit.
It was the Banner fans crowding the field at the end as Diarmuid Stritch (0-06) picked up the man-of-the-match award.
The midfielder was among three late changes which all worked to perfection, with outstanding veteran John Conlon and David McInerney stabilising Clare’s defensive spine.
The hosts ended with 14 men after Willie Connors picked up a second booking in the 51st minute, by which time nine points separated the sides.
The Premier’s only remaining hope is that Waterford get a result in Limerick. Otherwise, their elimination would be confirmed this weekend, rendering their Shannonside trip a dead-rubber from Tipp’s perspective.
This meeting of the last two All-Ireland champions saw Clare take the wind in the first half. Tipp led 0-05 to 0-04 after 16 minutes, but the signs were pointing to Banner superiority.
They were held back by nine first-half wides and the efforts of Ronan Maher, who was Tipp’s most effective performer.
A couple of early hits saw Connors, David Fitzgerald, and Seán Rynne pick up yellow cards.
Mark Rodgers came off the worst for wear as he was subbed off before half-time.
Tony Kelly collected points from a free and play as he was followed everywhere by Robert Doyle. Jason Forde had Tipp’s first two points, with the first from a sideline cut.
With four starting forwards held scoreless from play, Alan Tynan and Connors chipped in with points.
Clare outscored Tipp by 0-10 to 0-01 from the 20th to 35th minutes. Stritch knitted together three in a row, showing an intuitive understanding with Kelly.
Rhys Shelly saved from Peter Duggan as Clare played with advantage. When Ian Galvin was introduced for Rodgers, he was a magnet for the ball. He assisted a Rynne point with his first touch and got off shots with his next three, but missed two. He ended with 1-02 and five wides. Cathal Malone completed Clare’s seven-in-a-row.
Rynne’s third from play pushed them eight up before Tipp were glad to finish with a pair of Darragh McCarthy frees for 0-14 to 0-08 at half-time. The 25-10 shot count emphasised Clare’s dominance.The public address hadn’t had time to announce Tipp’s half-time change – Darragh Stakelum for Andrew Ormond – before Clare had the ball in the net. Galvin gobbled up the break from Ryan Taylor’s long ball and batted past the keeper.
Tipp’s best chance of a revival came and went in the 41st minute. John McGrath’s groundstroke was brilliantly saved by Éibhear Quilligan and Oisín O’Donoghue’s rebound clanked off the near post and wide.
A McCarthy free and Jake Morris had briefly raised home hopes, but after that miss, Clare reeled off the next four points, including the first of two Duggan sideline cuts.
Morris and Eoghan Connolly made it 1-19 to 0-13 before Tipp were reduced to 14 men as Connors tangled with David Reidy off the ball.
Clare added another four on the spin with Stritch and Galvin leading the way.
Tipperary: R Shelly; M Breen, B O’Mara, R Maher; E Connolly (0-03, 2f), R Doyle, C Morgan; W Connors (0-01), A Tynan (0-01); A Ormond, J Morris (0-04), O O’Donoghue; D McCarthy (0-03, 3f), J McGrath, J Forde (0-03, 1s/l).
Subs: D Stakelum for Ormond (h-t), C Stakelum (0-01) for Breen (42), S O’Farrell for Tynan (48), S Tobin (0-01) for McCarthy (51), N McGrath for Forde (57), K Ryan for O’Donoghue (66-f-t, temp).
Clare: É Quilligan; A Hogan, D McInerney, Darragh Lohan; D Ryan, J Conlon, N O’Farrell (0-01); R Taylor (0-01), D Stritch (0-06); C Malone (0-02), T Kelly (0-05, 4f), S Rynne (0-04); P Duggan (0-04, 2s/l, 1f), S O’Donnell, M Rodgers.
Subs: D Fitzgerald for Rodgers (8-13, temp), I Galvin (1-02) for Rodgers (25, inj), D Reidy for Taylor (46, inj), Fitzgerald for Kelly (57, inj), C Cleary for Rynne (62), S Meehan for O’Donnell (65).Referee: T Walsh (Waterford).
