T IPP & TUCK

Premier do just enough to topple Clare

ALL-IRELAND SHC Q-FIN AL

ground’s first senior Championship score inside a minute, it was the only time Clare led in the first half.

Callanan was in impressive form and when the fullforward got his fourth point on 18 minutes following Donagh Maher’s good delivery, they led by 0-9 to 0-3 but the game was level within two minutes as Aaron Cunningham netted twice for Clare.

Tipp had the last four points of the half though, from Callanan, Kennedy, Patrick Maher and John Mcgrath.

And by the sixth minute of the second half they were 0-18 to 2-6 in front as Callanan, expertly picked out by John O’dwyer, sent a shot whistling over the bar.

A pair of Kelly frees kept Clare in touch but by and large his second-half shooting was too inconsistent and John and Noel Mcgrath were able to come up with points when required to keep things ticking over for Tipp.

Michael Ryan’s side were 0-23 to 2-10 in front after Patrick Maher’s third point but Clare dug deep and Kelly, sub David Reidy (two), Colm Galvin, Peter Duggan and Conor Mcgrath with a great individual point brought them to within one.

Despite big names like Kelly and Podge Collins being substituted, they had the momentum but Tipp just managed to keep them at bay. John O’dwyer broke the flow after Callanan was fouled and that was followed by a massive score from Brendan Maher.

John Mcgrath brought his tally to six and sub Steven O’brien got in on the act too, meaning that Cathal Mcinerney’s goal for Clare at the death was just a consolation.

D Mooney; D Maher, T Hamill, J Barry; S Kennedy (0-1), R Maher, Pádraic Maher; B Maher (0-1f), M Breen (0-1); N Mcgrath (0-4), Patrick Maher (0-3), D Mccormack; J Mcgrath (0-6), S Callanan (0-7, 3f), J O’dwyer (0-3, 1f).subs: Seán O’brien for Barry (45), J Forde (0-1) for Breen (61), N O’meara for O’dwyer (68), Steven O’brien (0-1) for Callanan (70.

A Fahy; C Dillon, P O’connor, S Morey; D Fitzgerald, C Cleary, J Shanahan (0-1); C Galvin (0-1), T Kelly (0-6, 4f); C Malone, P Collins, J Conlon; S O’donnell (0-2), A Cunningham (2-0), C Mcgrath (0-2). Subs: P Duggan (0-1) for Conlon (33), D Reidy (0-2f) for Collins (52), C Mcinerney (1-1) for Malone (57), J Mccarthy for Kelly (67).

C Lyons (Cork).