Tipperary v Clare: The game at a glance
Monday June 22 2009
Man of the match
Noel McGrath (Tipperary)
Colin Ryan's eclectic mix of points -- 12 in all -- dragged Clare back into contention, but on the day young Noel McGrath's class and composure stood out for Tipperary. Five points from play were eclipsed by the nerve he showed to convert a late free after Eoin Kelly's departure at a time when Tipperary really needed it.
Turning point
Several twists and turns but when Diarmuid McMahon raced on to Pat Donnellan's clearance just before half-time for Clare's only goal, there was a sense of 'game on' even if they did fall nine points adrift in the second half.
Talking point
Tipperary's discomfort with holding on to big leads remains a feature of this Munster championship. Here, substantial leads (11 and nine points in either half) were eroded twice, mirroring the trend of the previous game against Cork.
Ref watch
Not much focus on Wexford referee John Owens who allowed the game to flow and benefited from the attitude of both sets of players.
They said
t"There were other times in other years when we were eight, nine points
up and came out losing or walking away with a draw. But each time the character of the team was questioned they came up trumps."
Liam Sheedy (Tipperary)
"It's important that you have the public on your side and the public support. We have an incredible public in Clare. We have been trounced for 100 years in Clare and they still show up."
Mike McNamara (Clare)
Match statistics
Wides: Tipperary 13 (6), Clare 5 (3)
Frees: Tipperary 8 (2), Clare 13 (6)
Yellow Cards: Tipperary 1 (Conor O'Brien 18), Clare 3 (Niall Gilligan 18, Jonathan Clancy 51, Brian O'Connell 56)
What next
Tipperary meet Waterford in the Munster hurling final on July 12, Clare meet Galway in phase two of the Qualifiers on July 11.
