Declan Ryan's Tipperary remain on course for a third successive ESB All-Ireland MHC triumph following a hard-earned Munster semi-final victory over Clare at Thurles last night. Tipperary..2-12 Clare...1-10 Before a crowd of nearly 5,000, Tipp only came to life in the closing stages to set up a Munster final date with Cork at the Gaelic Grounds on July 13. Paddy Murphy was the hero of the hour for the double All-Ireland champions, helping himself to two goals in either half. Clare played with the aid of the breeze in the first half and they got the ideal start when towering full forward Darach Honan set up Conor McGrath for the opening goal inside two minutes. The Banner continued to hold the lead until seven minutes before the break when Murphy raised his first green flag to edge Tipp ahead 1-3 to 1-2, and they led by 1-4 to 1-3 at the break. Clare resumed with a brace of points from Conor McGrath and Honan. After Honan missed a great good chance in the 40th minute, Clare were punished severely when Murphy crashed home his second major to give Tipp a 2-6 to 1-5 advantage. Although Clare tagged on another three points, the momentum was now firmly with the Premier boys and they finished with five unanswered points, with three of these coming from substitutes John Dwyer and Ruairi Gleeson (two). Tipperary - B McCormack; L Butler, K O Gorman, C Haugh; D Maher, J Barry, A Ryan; N McGrath 0-3, J Gallagher 0-1; K Murphy, T Butler, P Murphy 2-1; J O Neill 0-1, B O Meara 0-1, K Morris 0-2. Subs- J O Dwyer 0-1 for Butler; R Gleeson 0-2 for K Murphy; B Stapleton for Barry; K Shelley for O Meara. Clare - K Brennan; D Nash, C Chaplin, K Ryan; L O Loughlin, P Fitzpatrick 0-1, B O Connor; K Moynihan, L Markham; K Heagney, T Downes, P O Connor; F Kennedy, D Honan 0-5, C McGrath 1-3. Subs- I Fahy for Downes; C McInerney 0-1 for Kennedy; S McConigley for Moynihan; D Morey for O Loughlin. Tweet

Most Read Stories