Allianz Football League Division Two

CLARE 3-15 TIPPERARY 1-19

By John Fallon at Semple Stadium

Clare came with a late rally to secure victory at Semple Stadium and preserve their Division Two place for 2020 after a highly entertaining clash.

Tipperary had to win and hope that Cork slipped up in Armagh to remain in the division but they were unable to secure victory despite shooting 1-19.

Clare went 27 minutes without scoring in the second-half when they had the breeze, but they regrouped and came with a big finish to claim victory.

The sides were level three times in the opening half but Tipperary, backed by the breeze, pulled away towards the break to lead by 1-13 to 1-8 at the interval.

Conor Sweeney was the star performer as the Premier County enjoyed a blistering start with the Ballyporeen man pouncing for a goal after less than two minutes after being set up by Philip Austin.

Sweeney quickly added a point but then Clare, working the ball well through the lines, took over and they hit 1-3 without reply in a good seven-minute spell.

Gavin Cooney and Cathal O’Connor got points before Cooney pounced for a goal after Gary Brennan’s effort for a point came back off the post.

The scoring bursts continued with Sweeney hitting the next four points, three of them from play, for Tipperary to lead by 1-5 to 1-3 after 18 minutes of an entertaining contest.

Then Clare took charge again with Jamie Malone hitting a brace and Eoin Cleary and David Tubridy also scoring to go two up with eight minutes remaining in the half.

Sweeney again led the Tipp revival as they reeled off six unanswered points to go four ahead and after Cleary responded for Clare, Liam McGrath and Liam Casey finished out the half well for the home side as they went in leading by five points.

The Clare fans in the crowd of 1,431 were on their feet after the restart as Tubridy and sub Keelan Sexton kicked excellent points from the left to leave a goal between them after 38 minutes.

Two points from Cleary and one from Gary Brennan tied the sides before Malone set up Tubridy for a goal to lead by 2-13 to 1-13 after 42 minutes.

Tipperary responded well and two points from Liam McGrath either side of another Sweeney effort tied the sides going into the final quarter.

Tipperary pushed on from there and went ahead as two efforts from Sweeney either side of a Steven O’Brien point pushed them a goal in front going into the closing stages.

And it seemed they would survive when goalkeeper Evan Comerford saved brilliantly from Kieran Malone with four minutes left.

But Clare didn’t give up and a barren spell of 27 minutes was ended when Keelan Sexton finished a good move to tie the game before heading into six minutes of injury-time.

And it was the Banner County who pushed on to claim victory and preserve their Division 2 status as Gary Brennan and David Tubridy landed late points which confined both Tipperary and Cork to Division Three.

Scorers for Clare: David Tubridy 1-3, Gavin Cooney 1-1, Keelan Sexton 1-1, Eoin Cleary 0-4 (2fs), Gary Brennan 0-2, Jamie Malone 0-2, Cathal O’Connor 0-1, Sean O’Donoghue 0-1.

Scorers for Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 1-9 (4fs), Liam McGrath 0-4 (2fs), Kevin Fahey 0-2, Steven O’Brien 0-2, Liam Casey 0-2.

CLARE: Robert Eyres; Gordon Kelly, Cillian Brennan, Kevin Harnett; Sean Collins, Dean Ryan, Cian O’Dea; Sean O’Donoghue, Cathal O’Connor; Eoin Cleary, Conall O’hAinifein, Jamie Malone; Gavin Cooney, Gary Brennan, David Tubridy.

Subs: Keelan Sexton for Dean Ryan (36), Kieran Malone for Gavin Cooney (64), Dale Masterson for Conall O’hAinifein (67).

TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Brian Fox, John Meagher, Emmett Moloney; Alan Campbell, Dáire Brennan, Kevin Fahey; Steven O’Brien, Jack Kennedy; Liam Casey, Philip Austin, Paul Maher; Michael Quinlivan, Conor Sweeney, Liam McGrath.

Subs: Jimmy Feehan for Paul Maher (60), Liam Boland for Philip Austin (60), Dan O’Meara for Liam McGrath (67).

REFEREE: Fergal Kelly (Longford).