Webster lowers the Banner

Tipperary 2-14 Clare 0-14

But, the inescapable fact is that the progress made by Ken Hogan's superbly prepared team in opening up a two-goal lead in that brief period was to seriously undermine the opposition's stuttering challenge over the course of the whole game.

And some very poor Clare finishing over the course of the half, featuring three definite chances of goal, effectively denied them a victory they never really looked capable of manufacturing.

Viewed overall, perhaps the greatest tribute that could be paid to a Tipperary team denied the services of star full-back Philip Maher but inspired by debutante full-forward Micheal Webster was that they sustained their own strong challenge all the way to the finish. Several times Clare promised a recovery, but they lacked real scoring power and the cutting edge of Tipperary.

Surprisingly, the game opened tamely, without any real aggression from either side and after eight minutes they were level at 0-2 each. However, in a very short period of time, it took a dramatic turn.

What was noteworthy was that Clare were struggling to find their form. That resulted from the combination of obvious forward weaknesses and, much more significantly, some excellent play from Tipp. The foundation for their early dominance was laid in the heart of their defence, with David Kennedy continuing his impressive form of late and Eamonn Corcoran contributing valuably in the left corner.

The net result was that Clare rarely penetrated in the half-forward line, until Diarmuid McMahon began to win some ball on the right wing. And, their troubles were magnified by an inability to compete on even terms at midfield (where Colin Lynch in particular rarely figured) and by a surprising frailty in the full-back line. This was highlighted by commanding play from Micheal Webster on Brian Lohan and terrific work from Lar Corbett in the left corner.

Barry Nugent wasted the first of the Clare goal chances in the 9th minute when he hit a ground shot just outside the left post. And, that loss was magnified when, in the space of two minutes, Corbett had the ball in the net for Tipperary after Webster made the opening and then Webster himself goaled, after a move involving Benny Dunne and Eoin Kelly.

Despite the boost these scores gave Tipperary, it was notable that their attack lost a bit of its drive. Corbett was forced off injured after a heavy tackle from Gerry O'Grady (Corbett was suspected afterwards of suffering a broken leg) and a tightening up in the Clare half-back line saw them create more openings in attack.

Between a terrific Benny Dunne score from the left wing in the 16th minute and the next score (from Diarmuid McMahon) in the 21st, Clare wasted good chances of scores. McMahon pointed when he had the time and the space to put the ball in the net and they lost another great chance of a goal in the 24th minute. Again, they gained a point from an improved Barry Nugent which was significantly due to an excellent block by an in-form Brendan Cummins.

Disconcertingly for the Clare management, their side had, by the end of the half, accumulated ten wides and two goals (2-7 to 0-7) and this while the Tipperary rate of scoring had slowed considerably.

Three times in the opening period of the second half (41st, 48th and 51st), Clare had the margin down to four points, but that was the nearest they ever came to staging a genuine recovery. Tipperary had the confidence to keep up the pressure and, while Corbett was definitely a loss, Evan Sweeney impressed more as the game aged, as did Colin Morrissey. Eoin Kelly's accuracy from frees meant that they never had any reason to be seriously worried about the course the game was taking.

Points from Kelly, Devaney and Sweeney had Tipperary seven points clear with eleven minutes of normal time remaining and, effectively, Clare were finished especially after Gilligan made a poor effort at trying to goal from a 21 yards free. Over the remaining part of the game, they did win a lot of ball around half-back (where Frank Lohan was seen at his best) and midfield, but, while Gilligan was much more involved at full-forward, John Devaney was also contributing at full-back after a shaky start.

On a day when Webster emerged an unlikely hero, the Banner just didn't have the power up front. And, while conditions were very poor, they were the same for both sides!

*Pat O'Connor made few mistakes apart from attempting to allow an advantage where it didn't work out.

Scorers: Tipperary E Kelly 0-7 (0-4 frees); L. Corbett and M. Webster 1-0 each; F. Devaney and E. Sweeney 0-2 each; T. Dunne, P. Kelly and B. Dunne 0-1 each.

Clare: N. Gilligan 0-5 (0-2 frees); D. McMahon, S. McMahon (frees), B. Nugent and T. Griffin 0-2 each; T. Carmody 0-1.

TIPPERARY: B. Cummins; E. Corcoran, J. Devane, P. Curran; D. Fanning, D. Kennedy, D. Fitzgerald; B. Dunne (capt.), P. Kelly; C. Morrissey, T. Dunne, F. Devanney; E. Kelly, M. Webster, L. Corbett. Sub: E. Sweeney for Corbett (injured, 15th minute); H. Moloney for Kennedy (42nd); C. O'Mahony for Sweeney (69th); P. O'Brien for T. Dunne (71st).

CLARE: D. Fitzgerald; F. Lohan, B. Lohan, G. O'Grady; B. O'Connell, S. McMahon (capt.), G. Quinn; A. Markham, C. Lynch; D. McMahon, B. Nugent, T. Carmody; N. Gilligan, T. Griffin, A. Quinn. Subs: D. Forde for Nugent (46th minute); D. O'Connell for Quinn (49th); C. Plunkett for D. McMahon (56th); C. Forde for Markham (60th).

Referee: P. O'Connor (Limerick).

Attendance: 22,527.