Tipperary are through to the Munster MHC final after defeating Clare by 1-15 to 1-11 at Thurles tonight.

This was a sweet victory for Tipp, who were heavily beaten by the Banner at the same stage last year.

On a poignant night for Tipperary hurling, with 3,482 in attendance, a minute's silence was observed in memory of the late, great Jimmy Doyle and flags flew at half mast; Tipp bossed most of the match but had to repel a determined Clare surge towards the end.

A goal from Drom & Inch clubman Tommy Nolan (1-1) ensured the victors of a commanding 1-8 to 0-4 half-time lead, with only one Clare forward (Aaron Shanagher) registering during an opening half-hour that saw them strike eight wides.

Four points were shared inside the opening ten minutes, with midfielders Colm Fitzgerald (son of Davy, from a sideline cut) and Jack Cunningham (with Clare's only first-half score from play!) on target for the Banner County, and Tipp led by 0-3 to 0-2 at the end of a low-scoring opening quarter.

Despite having captain Stephen Quirke stretchered off with a knee injury, Liam Cahill's charges pushed on to lead by 1-5 to 0-2 with five minutes left before the break, Nolan supplying the goal in the 25th minute to double the gap and leave clear daylight between the sides.

The next two points were shared as the hosts led by seven at the interval.

A brace of Shanagher frees and a point from impact sub Aidan Kennedy barely kept the visitors in touch as Tipp led by 1-12 to 0-7 with 20 minutes left to play. Wolfe Tones' Shanagher drilled over a '65' - his fourth score - and Cunningham provided the Banner's third successive score as they closed within six, 1-12 to 0-9.

Lyndon Fairbrother seemed to have steadied the Premier with his fifth point but Clare replied with a 49th-minute Martin Daly goal - 1-13 to 1-9!

Full forward David Gleeson - with his fourth point - and Kennedy traded scores and a converted Shanagher free continued the fightback as just three points separated the teams with five minutes left. But Tipp, who had led by ten early in the second half, clipped over the insurance point through sub Mikey Connors and booked their place in the provincial final against either Cork or Limerick, who meet next Thursday night.

The final will be staged in Thurles on Sunday, July 12th.

Tipperary - P Hayes; E Heffernan, E Moloney, J Quigley; J Skehan, B McGrath, K Hassett; D Carey (0-2), A Tynan (0-1); L McCutcheon, S Quirke, G Ryan (0-1); T Nolan (1-1), D Gleeson (0-4), L Fairbrother (0-5, 4f). Subs: T Lowry for S Quirke, S Neville for L McCutcheon, R Mulrooney for G Ryan, M Connors (0-1) for T Lowry, C Darcy for D Carey.

Clare - J Loughnane; D Power, S Phelan, R Monahan; D Chaplin, N Fox, C Noonan; C Fitzgerald (0-2, 1f, 1sl), J Cunningham (0-2); J McCarthy, M O'Shea, A Shanagher (0-5, 4f, 1'65); C O'Halloran, M Daly (1-0), P O'Loughlin. Subs: A Kennedy (0-2) for M O'Shea, P Lillis for R Monahan, D Devanney for D Chaplin, P McNamara for C O'Halloran, S Kennedy for C Noonan.

Referee - J Larkin.

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