Treacy's goal ends the affair

Munster MFC Tipperary 1-8 Clare 1-3:LIAM TREACY blasted home a goal seven minutes from time to send Tipperary on their way to victory over Clare at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.

The goal came two minutes after Clare had lost influential forward Pádraig Collins, sidelined for a second yellow card, and spelled the end of the Clare challenge.

At the end of a very poor first half, Tipperary led by 0-3 to 0-1, Donagh Leahy kicking two of the Tipp points.

Clare upped the tempo in the second half. A penalty goal by Aidan Malone in the 46th minute, after Tony Kelly was fouled, put Clare 1-3 to 0-4 ahead.

Tipperary responded well. Billy Hewitt pointed three minutes later and when Clare had Collins red- carded, Tipperary got well on top.

Liam Boland levelled with a 52nd-minute point and a minute later midfielder Liam Treacy got on the end of a fine move to blast to the Clare net.

Two further Tipperary points set the seal on their win but they have much to do if they are to beat Cork in the semi-final. While Treacy’s goal was decisive, Paddy Dalton was Tipperary’s man of the match with an big game in defence. Others to shine were Donagh Leahy, Benny Harkin, Billy Hewitt, and goalkeeper Paul Nolan.

TIPPERARY:P Nolan; P Dalton, C O'Sullivan, P O'Meara; B Maher(0-1), M O'Sullivan, S Taylor; L Treacy (1-0), J O'Callaghan; D Leahy (0-2), B Hewitt (0-3), S Leahy; L Boland(0-1), B Harkin (0-1), L McGrath. Subs:B Walsh for S Leahy; K Kennedy for Taylor.

CLARE:Darren Sexton; J Colleran, G Johnson, O Vaughan; S Lineen, S Malone, W DeLoughrey; R Linnane, A Malone (1-3); A Downes, C O'Reilly, P Collins; T Kelly, N Hickey, Darragh Sexton. Subs:K O'Leary for Colleran; D Malone for Downes; A Murphy for D Malone; F Clancy for O Reilly.

Referee:M Collins (Cork).