The Clare Senior Footballers suffered a one point defeat to Tipperary in this evenings National Football League Division Four final at Croke Park.
It was a one point margin separating the sides at half time with the premier county ahead 1-07 to 0-09.
Shane McGrath scored three first half points from play, David Tubridy with four, 2 from free's while Ciaran Russell and Cathal O'Connor contributed a point each in the opening period.
A point from Shane Hickey two minutes into the second half brought it back to a draw, but Tipp were quick to respond through Barry Grogan two minutes later.
Jamie Malone tapped over his first from play seconds later, while on the 42nd minute mark Martin O'Leary sent a strike to the back of the Tipp net and put Colm Collins charges three points up at 1-08 to 1-11.
The Premier county rallied however with four points, before David Tubridy could level matters yet again through a free in the 57th minute, at this stage the sides now level at 1-12 a piece.
It went point for point over the remainder of the game, with Clare’s scores from Tubridy and McGrath, but the final whistle blew at Tipp’s advantage and a final score of 1-16 to 1-15.
Speaking after the game, former Clare manager and Clare FM Analyst Michéal McDermott described it as a valiant performance from the banner men, paying credit to the younger players stepping up to the mark and not letting the occasion get to them.
