Clare hold on to earn semi-final with Waterford

Clare 0-17 Tipperary 1-12

HOLDERS CLARE hung on for a slender win in a competitive Waterford Crystal Cup senior hurling quarter-final at Borrisoleigh last evening.

They showed great appetite, but Tipperary were left to rue a few squandered goal chances.

Clare, with John Conlon an inspiring figure in attack, quickly opened a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

Tipperary settled, but missed goal opportunities by Hugh Maloney and Eoin Kelly saw them trail at the interval by 0-6 to 0-10.

Clare went five points clear with 11 minutes to go, but Tipp rallied and when Noel McGrath netted off a Larry Corbett pass in the 26th minute to leave only two points in it, a grandstand finish lay in store.

Despite being under heavy pressure, Clare held their nerve to clinch a place in the semi-final against Waterford on Sunday.

CLARE:P Brennan; P Vaughan, C Dillon, A Bridgdale; D O'Donovan, B O'Connell, P Donnellan (0-1); M Murphy (0-1), J Clancy (0-2); A Markham (0-1), J Conlon (0-3), F Lynch (0-1); M Flaherty (0-7), M Scanlon, A O'Brien. Subs: D McMahon (0-1) for O'Brien; J Cusack for Scanlon; B Bugler for O'Connell.

TIPPERARY:B Cummins; C O'Brien, D Fanning, P Curran; D Younge, T Stapleton, S Maher; B Dunne (0-1), G Ryan (0-1); P Kerwick (0-2), H Maloney, P Kelly; P Bourke (0-1), J O'Brien, E Kelly (0-6). Subs: M Webster for Bourke; L Corbett for P Kelly; N McGrath (1-0) for Kerwick; S McGrath (0-1) for Ryan; P Maher for Dunne.

Referee:D Cobbs, Cork.