Considine leads the away charge

McGrath Cup semi-finals / Clare 1-14 Tipperary 1-10: Kieran Considine sealed victory for Clare yesterday at Clonmel with a 61st-minute goal.

Having conceded the opening point to Tipperary's wing forward James Williams, Clare took controlwith a string of points from John Daly, Alan Clohessy, Denis Russell and Considine to lead 0-7 to 0-2 after 21 minutes.

Tipperary got back on track with four pounts from Declan Browne, while a late Considine point left Clare leading 0-8 to 0-6 at the half-way stage.

Clare's Denis Russell claimed the opening score when play resumed but Tipp came back into contention when Browne found an unmarked Niall Fitzgerald with a quickly taken free and he had the opening goal to tie the scoring at 1-6 to 0-9.

Browne then put the home side ahead for the first time after 37 minutes - with his only point from play - but the Clare response was quick and effective.

Alan Clohessy and Considinestruck with four rapid points to leave Tipp trailing 0-13 to 1-7 going into the last quarter. But Tipperary recovered to draw level for the third time.

But when Browne, who had been a flu victim during the week, left the action the Tipp challenge faltered and Clare finished strongly with Denis Russell restoring their lead in the 60th minute. Considine then sealed victory with his well-taken goal.

CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, C Whelan, C Kirwan; P Smith, D Kelly, R Slattery; G Quinlan, B Considine; Denis Russell (0-4, one free), David Russell, A Clohessy (0-4, all frees); K Considine(1-5), M O'Shea, J Daly (0-1). Subs: N Griffin for P Smith, B Harte for J Daly, J Dowling for David Russell.

TIPPERARY: P Ryan; S Collum, D Byrne, B Hahessy; P Hally, T Russell, N Fitzgerald (1-0); K Mulryan, M Tarrant; G Burke (0-1), A Fitzgerald, J Williams (0-2); T Doyle, D Browne (0-7, six frees), D O'Brien. Subs: J P Looby for T Doyle, R Costigan for P Hally, E Hanrahan for M Tarrant, L England for N Fitzgerald, C Maher for D Browne.

Referee: Michael Meade (Limerick).