Clare have ended Tipperary’s Championship challenge after a nail biting encounter in Semple Stadium this afternoon.
A first minute Peter Duggan free opened the scoring but it was another thirteen minutes until the Banner registered another score, while Tipperary raced to a 1-4 lead.
The Premier’s dominance continued for the rest of the first half and the 1-10 to 0-9 half-time scoreline wasn’t an accurate reflection of the gap between the two sides.
The second half saw Clare struggling to reign Tipp back, with Duggan’s point scoring efforts crucial in keeping his side in contention.
As the remaining ten minutes loomed it seemed only a goal could give Clare a chance of the win, but it was Tipperary who descended on the Banner goals – until a remarkable block by Pa Kelly launched a retaliation by Clare, caught by John Conlon who spun and ducked a Tipp challenge to pass the ball to Ian Galvin who stuck it deep in the Tipp goal.
With one point in the difference, Tipperary raced to extend their lead, knocking over a point to leave them with two points and five minutes of injury time.
Clare were fighting with a renewed energy, however, and fought their way to the other end of the pitch three times in the last two minutes; Podge Collins equalising with Duggan scoring another two to secure the win for the Banner.
Clare’s attention turns to Cusack Park next week where they face Limerick in their final game of the Munster Championship.