You write Clare hurling off at your peril, declares Lyons
In his four years in charge, successive championship defeats have dented Lyons' progress, but yesterday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, everything clicked into gear.
"You write Clare hurling off at your peril," warned an overjoyed Lyons. "People tend to forget that we were in last year's All-Ireland final. You don't get to a final after playing six matches and suddenly become a poor team.
"Another thing you wouldn't want to forget if you go back on the performances of the last two years, is that two points was all that was in it last year and it was a point the year before.
"On both of those occasions, we went away with the firm belief the performances of our team did reflect our ability.
"Today we got that performance and on this occasion it was a true reflection of the team's ability. I had said to the players during the lead up to the game, it's conceivable that Clare and Tipperary would draw each other for the next seven years, and there would come a time when we'd have to decide we are not happy any more being good losers.
"I felt that time arrived today. When you are being downtrodden like we have been for the last nine months, there is little motivation needed to get a team going.
"Today, the lads assumed responsibility and went all out for victory. And I'm pleased for every one of them that we have finally put an end to a bad run of defeats at the hands of Tipperary. If nothing else that needed to be done."
Lyons blooded a couple of newcomers in Andrew Quinn and Diarmuid McMahon for yesterday's match and while he didn't mention them specifically, it was clear Lyons was impressed by both youngsters.
"It was our game plan to play with the wind if we won the toss because it was fairly substantial advantage, and that worked out well for us," he said. "We got early scores which settled us and the lads grew in confidence as the half went on.
"It allowed us to establish a pattern of play which Tipperary couldn't break. In the second half we simply matched them score for score and there was never a period when there was less than eight points between us. That allowed us to hurl in what I would call the comfort zone."
Referring to the sending off of his captain Seanie McMahon, who will now miss the semi-final on June 8 against Cork, Lyons said he didn't see the incident.
"I would have to say, however, that both Brian Carroll and Seanie McMahon are very clean hurlers and didn't reflect the game itself.
"If he is to miss the semi-final I feel very sorry for him. He has played 10 years for Clare and never been sent off in that period. He would, in my opinion, be a model player."
Long-serving James O'Connor said it was a game Clare had to win after suffering three defeats in a row.
"We had a hunger for this game and it showed. You can never judge Clare on their league form. Our preparations this year have been geared for this championship match and once it became a dogfight I'd like to think our greater hunger won it for us.
"There were occasions when our forwards were back defending, and that epitomised for me the spirit that is in this particular group of players. It's all for one and one for all.
"The real losers were the Clare people who didn't travel down here, and they really let us down. To those who did travel I'm delighted for them. They got something to cheer about at last."
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