Calm Leahy provides the ammunition

This was certainly an impressive Tipperary display. In the most exciting game of the year so far, they started with some blazing hurling and then kept tearing into Clare right until the end.

I assume the whole idea of this fiery start was to unsettle the Clare backs and time after time they caused them trouble. But Tipperary were always the more hungry, and were faster and fitter.

For the first 20 minutes Clare were definitely off the pace, and part of that was because they didn't have the advantage of playing a game before this. And to me they seemed to fall a little bit more than usual and whether that was about tiredness I don't know.

After 20 minutes, though, they did appear to find their feet and after making a good comeback, ended up level at half-time. I thought then that it was still anybody's game but I don't think that was in Tipperary's mind. If they started like an express train in the first half, they started like a whirlwind in the second. When you compare that to last year, they displayed a lot more determination to stay ahead.

Clare's tactic of playing two inside in the full forward line backfired at the start because any time Clare hit the ball in, Paul Ormonde was loose and picked up the ball.

John Leahy had another tremendous performance. He kept his cool, won a lot of ball, and scored three great points - one of them from way out. On top of that, you had an excellent display from the Tipperary half backs - Eamonn Corcoran, David Kennedy and John Carroll. They also came forward and put so much pressure on Clare they were forced to send a lot of shots wide.

Of course, Clare will feel a little bit unlucky about the goal from Paul Shelly. I would say a portion of the ball went over the line but I don't know if it all did. But the umpire was right there and he had the best view of all.

It was hard on Clare because it was a flick and it rolled, but of course Tipperary won't worry because a goal is a goal. Then Clare had more bad luck at the other end when Enda Flannary hit the upright, as well as another close shot from David Forde.

Despite all that, Tipperary were far superior in the second half. By now they were playing with tremendous confidence and every time the ball came down, they chased, turned and twisted to get rid of it. And up front, Paul Shelly certainly moved up a gear in the second half.

And it was a very well balanced performance. You had some eight new players who had no hang ups whatsoever and on top of that they had the lesson from last year in that you have to keep working against this Clare team.

So overall you have to say it was a very impressive performance. To score 2-19 and to be so dominant, no matter what Clare tried. It might be said that Clare over-elaborated towards the end to try and get their shots on goal but they were being closed down so effectively or else intercepted by the Tipperary defence.

It could be said as well that Clare just weren't on their best form. I thought Jamesie O'Connor was coming into the game by the end of the first half but he was always hounded so well by Tipperary.

Still, Tipperary did everything right. Their goalkeeper played superb and they all played as a team, and won as a team. For me, it would be between Leahy and Eugene O'Neill for the man of the match because they showed great ability to get to the ball. Leahy might edge it because he played so calmly and supplied the forwards with everything they needed.

Clare have given tremendous performances in recent years but this just wasn't one of them. Their long-distance striking just wasn't there and it wasn't a good sign that they hit so many wides in the first half, playing with the wind.

As for the future, Ger Loughnane says that he enjoys the game as much as ever but we are sure to see some changes. Liam Doyle was in terrible trouble and ended up being taken off before the end. That was the first time in seven years that their half-back line was broken. Anthony Daly has a long road behind him as well.

For Tipperary, there's always room for improvement but it will be hard for them to surpass this performance.