Clare 2-17 Tipperary 0-14
Clare recorded their most significant victory in three years over rivals Tipperary at Pairc Ui Chaoimh today to set up a Munster semi-final showdown with Cork next month.
Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists outgunned a visibly weary Tipperary side who appeared flat and lifeless following their titanic national league decider with Kilkenny two weeks ago.
Clare boss Cyril Lyons exposed Tipperary's crippling injury crisis at the back with a number of clever positional switches at the throw-in - most notably the deployment of Jamesie O'Connor in the left corner.
O'Connor, often written off as yesterday's man, showed plenty of spark to ignite the Clare attack and opened the scoring on two minutes. The Banner county bombarded the Tipp rearguard in those opening exchanges and midfielder Colin Lynch, on more than one occasion, instigated the drives.
Lynch, a man-of-the-match contender, played a telling role in O'Connor's goal just 14 minutes in. The powerfully built number 9 scrapped hard in the corner to reclaim a loose ball and fed Niall Gilligan whose deflected pass fell into O'Connor's path. Unmarked after the Tipperary defence was dragged out of position, and close to goal, he struck ruthlessly passed goalkeeper Brendan Cummins.
Clare, playing with a stiff breeze, left their rattled rivals in dire straits four minutes later when championship newcomer Andrew Quinn beat Cummins at his near post for a second goal and a nine point advantage. Gilligan, Tony Carmody and Alan Markham all pointed within minutes to extend that lead.
Tipperary provided little going forward and over-relied on Eoin Kelly's free taking ability during a miserable opening half. Kelly - scorer of six points - did point from play and then Liam Cahill added another but Tony Griffen, Gilligan and Quinn all smacked over scores to leave the Tipperary management team facing a conundrum on a half-time scoreline of 2-10 to 0-5.
Michael Doyle's side found their feet in the early stages of the second period. Kelly pointed from play while John Carroll and Tommy Dunne briefly settled the attack with further scores. But despite that light relief, Tipp couldn't get to grips with their own game and never got on terms with the damage inflicted upon them in the first half.
Ugly scenes, after what had been a physical but fair contest, marred the closing 10 minutes. Clare captain Seanie McMahon received his marching orders for an off the ball incident on Tipp's Conor Gleeson while John Carroll followed him one minute later for an incident in the ensuing shenanigans.
Clare closed out the contest with scores from Gilligan, Quinn and Markham while goalkeeper Cummins made a magnificent save to deny Tony Griffen from point blank range.
Brian O'Meara and substitute Eoin Brislane hit over consolation scores for Tipperary who must now negotiate a path though the tricky All-Ireland qualifiers.
GAA results:
Connacht SFC
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 0-8
Ulster SFC
Derry 1-9 Tyrone 0-12
Ulster SHC
Antrim 0-21 Down 2-12
Munster SHC
Clare 2-17 Tipperary 0-14