On-form Lambert sends Tipp into final

Tipp 1-8, Clare 0-8

A super goal from Tipperary sharpshooter Peter Lambert sent the premier county into the second Munster final of the year.

They defeated rivals Clare in a hard-fought Bank of Ireland Munster senior football semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

Tipperary held a 0-4 to 0-2 interval lead - All-Star Declan Browne getting three of the four scored - in a lacklustre and uneventful first half.

In fact, the major talking point at the break was the sixth minute dismissal of midfielders Kevin Mulryan (Tipperary) and Brian Considine (Clare) for an off-the-ball incident.

Tipp burst into life upon resumption with an immediate Declan Browne point.

Then, a Browne pass sent corner-forward Peter Lambert clear and his super finish from 20 yards gave Clare goalkeeper Fergal Maguire no chance - and Tipperary a six-point lead.

The bannermen had further trouble when Mark O'Connell was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Despite being down to 13 men, they fought back hard.

However, the margin was too great for them and Tipperary held out for a well-earned victory.