Tipp survive late scare to book repeat final with Cork

Tipperary 0-17 Clare 1-12

Three points adrift with regulation time elapsed, Clare needed a goal from a 20-metre free to send the match to a replay. But Fergal Lynch completely mishit the shot which went over the bar and Tipp progress to a meeting with Cork, a repeat of last year's decider.

There was little to choose between the sides for most of the hour. Indeed they were level four times before Tipp made a late surge for victory with three points in a row.

After swapping early points, Clare with Cronan Dillon and Henry Hayes playing well, struck for the game's only goal from full forward Cathal Egan after seven minutes.

The loss of centre back Jim Bob McCarthy though injury after 10 minutes was a further blow to the Premier county as Clare raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Tipp, who had the opening score after a minute, slowly began to come back. A point by Simon Everard settled his side, particularly in defence where Conor O'Brien and James Moran began to take control.

Shane McGrath's pace and skill at midfield kept the pressure on the Clare defence and they rifled over three successive points, to leave just the minimum between the sides after 25 minutes.

Everard gave Tipp the lead with a delightful point from near the touchline but Clare finished strongly and Paddy Vaughan landed the equaliser to leave a 0-9 to 1-6 deadlock at the break.

Clare with Ronan O'Looney, a commanding figure, at full back resumed in determined mood.

Wing back Paddy Vaughan showed his prowess from placed balls with two long range points to ease his side back in front.

The teams went on to match one another point for point to leave the scoreline 0-13 to 1-10 by the end of the third quarter.

However Tipperary, with James Moran and Shane McGrath continuing to hurl defiantly and wing back Conor O'Brien unerring from frees, finished with three points in a row, and they survived that late free to reach their third final in a row.

Scorers Tipperary: C. O'Brien 0-4 (frees); S. McGrath, S. Everard, P. Lawlor (0-2 frees) 0-3 each; S. Stapleton 0-2; W. Keogh, T. Connors 0-1 each.

Clare: P. Vaughan 0-4 (frees); C. Earlie 0-3 (0-2 frees); C. Egan 1-0; B. McMahon 0-2; H. Hayes, A. O'Brien, F. Lynch 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: A. Cooney; J. Moran, B. Lawlor, M. Phelan; C. O'Brien, JB McCarthy, C. Everard; S. McGrath, T. Slevin; S. Stapleton, A. Fitzgerald, W. Keogh; S. Everard, P. Lawlor, R. O'Brien.

Subs. E. Ryan for McCarthy; B. Hogan for Slevin; T. Connors for Keogh; G. McMahon for Colm Everard.

CLARE: S. Hawes; B. Duggan, R. O'Looney, C. McMahon; P. Vaughan, C. Dillon, P. Moroney; H. Hayes, D. Shannon; A. O'Brien, F. Lynch, B. McMahon; Clive Earlie, C. Egan, Cathal Earlie.

Subs: S. Arthur for Conor Earlie; J. Bugler for C. McMahon.

Referee: M. Wadding (Waterford)