Tipperary snatch late win

Tipperary ... 1-9 Clare ... 1-8 After extra-time: Tipperary came back from the dead to capture the McGrath Cup in Miltown Malbay yesterday. In a game that Clare should have wrapped up in the second half, Tipp drew level two minutes into injury time when an Aidan Fitzgerald goal ensured extra time.

The first half hour of this encounter saw Clare take command early on and their 0-5 to 0-2 lead at the half-time break was a fair reflection of play. However, the introduction of Tipp's star forward Declan Browne at the start of the second half paid handsome dividends as he kicked a good point from the left touch line. A Tony Doyle effort reduced the margin to just one point before Clare replied with a fine goal by substitute Martin Daly in the 51st minute. When Denis O'Driscoll added a further point a minute later, it seemed Clare were well on course to take their second title in a row.

But two pointed frees by Browne kept Tipp in touch, allowing Fitzgerald to send the tie into extra time with that great goal.

And they deservedly wrapped up the title with further points from Benny Hickey (two) and Tony Doyle in extra time.

TIPPERARY: B Enright, B Hahessy, N Kelly, Damien Byrne, S Maher, D Fanning, N Fitzgerald (1-1), K Mulryan, A Fitzgerald, T Doyle (0-2), F O'Callaghan, P Hally, B Hickey (0-3), E Hanrahan, David Byrne (0-3). Subs: D Browne for Hally; J P Looby for David Byrne; P Hally for Maher.

CLARE: D O'Brien, C Whelan, D O'Sullivan, D Blake, D Heddigan, N Griffin, D O'Driscoll (0-2), G Quinlan, D Russell (0-1), M O'Shea (0-1) , A Clohessy (0-1), P McMahon, M O'Dwyer (0-1), S Hickey (0-2), M O'Connell. Subs: B Considine for Heddigan; R Donnelly for O'Shea; M Daly (1-0) for Clohessy; E Curtin for McMahon; P Cosgrove for Russell; J Enright for Donnelly.

Referee: G Haugh (Limerick)