TWO GOALS in the closing seven minutes by 16-year-old substitute Donal Shelly helped All-Ireland champions Tipperary retain their Munster minor hurling championship title against a shell shocked Clare side at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.

Clare led practically all the way until Shelly's second goal a minute from the end gave Tipperary the lead for the first time and a point seconds later by Paddy O'Brien sealed an unlikely victory.by captain Donncha Fahy, which ended with Shelly blasting home to reduce Clare's advantage to 1-13 to 1-12.

Clare had had a super start, featuring a goal in the second minute by Kilmaley's Brian McMahon, and they swept to a 1-5 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes. However, Tipperary settled and managed to reduce the deficit to 1- 6 to 0-6 at the break, thanks to the accuracy of O'Brien from frees.

Clare looked the better side on the resumption, reflected in their 1-11 to 0-8 lead midway through.