Tipp set up Rebel clash
Tipp, defeated by Kerry in the first round, bounced back with a five-points victory against Clare in Saturday’s semi-final playoff to set up a showdown with the Rebels at Semple Stadium.
Clare failed to score from play on a dull but dry evening in Thurles witnessed by under 200 spectators. Tipp led by 0-3 to 0-1 at half-time but Clare’s only scorer, Aidan Malone, netted a 47th-minute penalty to hand his side a 1-3 to 0-4 lead. But the tide turned when Clare’s Padraig Collins was dismissed for a second bookable offence with nine minutes remaining.
It was decided six minutes from time when Tipp’s impressive midfielder Liam Treacy netted a solo goal to send the home side 1-6 to 1-3 clear.
Scorers for Tipperary: L Treacy 1-0, B Hewitt 0-3 (1f), D Leahy 0-2, B Maher 0-1, L Boland 0-1f, B Harkin 0-1f.
Scorer for Clare: A Malone 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-3f).
TIPPERARY: P Nolan; P Dalton, C O’Sullivan, P O’Meara; B Maher, M O’Sullivan, S Taylor; L Treacy, J O’Callaghan; D Leahy, B Hewitt, S Leahy; L Boland, B Harkin, L McGrath.
Subs: B Walsh for S Leahy (48), K Kennedy for Taylor (59).
CLARE: Darren Sexton; J Colleran, G Johnson, O Vaughan; S Lineen, S Malone, W de Loughrey; R Linnane, A Malone; A Downes, C O’Reilly, P Collins; T Kelly, N Hickey, Darragh Sexton.
Subs: K O’Leary for Colleran (h/t), D Malone for Downes (44), A Murrihy for D Malone (55), F Clancy for O’Reilly (60).
Referee: Martin Collins (Cork).
