http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2015/0118/673576-clare-tipperary/
An injury-time point from substitute Colin Ryan earned Clare a 0-16 to 0-15 victory over Tipperary in the quarter-finals of the Waterford Crystal Cup at Sixmilebridge.
The home side led by 0-15 to 0-11 entering the final minutes, only for a Brendan Maher-inspired Tipperary to peg them back before Ryan completed Clare’s first competitive victory in over nine months.
It was the sixth meeting between the two sides in the Waterford Crystal Cup in the last seven years, four of which were finals that were shared evenly by the two counties.
There was little to separate the sides throughout on this occasion, with the Banner County shading the first half by 0-08 to 0-07 after the teams had been level on four occasions.
Clare also had the best chance of a goal over the 70 minutes when Aaron Cunningham was denied twice by goalkeeper Darragh Egan at close range after only ten minutes.
Amid the wintery conditions, converting placed balls was essential, with Cathal O’Connell and Brendan Maher registering the bulk of the scores.
They would continue their personal duel into the second period as the heavyweights went point for point.
As the game developed, both sides introduced more experience and fresh legs from the bench, with Clare’s quartet arguably having the greater impact as Colin Ryan and Paul Flanagan both scored to ease the home side four clear.
Four points in only three minutes, three from Maher, dramatically altered the narrative as this last-eight tie drifted over the 70 minutes.
However, just as it seemed as if extra-time was on the cards, up popped the Newmarket-on-Fergus forward to maintain Clare’s excellent record in this competition.
Clare’s reward is a semi-final trip to Pairc Ui Rinn next Sunday to take on Cork in what is a repeat of the 2013 All-Ireland senior final.
Clare: P Kelly; D O’Donovan, C Duggan, S Morey; G O’Connell, C Ryan, C Cleary; B Bugler (0-01), C Galvin (0-01); P Donnellan (0-02), B Duggan (0-01), S Golden; D O’Halloran (0-02), A Cunningham (0-01), C O’Connell (0-04, 0-04f)
Subs: J Conlon for S Golden (53), Colin Ryan (0-02, 0-01f) for C Galvin (53), P Flanagan (0-01) for C Cleary (55), J Shanahan for B Duggan (63)
Tipperary: D Egan; J O’Dwyer, P Curran, S Maher; R Maher, C O’Mahony, C O’Brien; T Stapleton (0-01), G Ryan (0-01); D Maher (0-02), J Woodlock, C Kenny; D Butler (0-01), S Maher (0-02), Brendan Maher (0-07, 0-05f)
Subs: M Butler for J O’Dwyer (half-time), K Bergin (Killenaule) for G Ryan (50), P Maher for D Butler (50), S McGrath (0-01) for D Maher (60)
Referee: J Murphy (Limerick)