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Bonner Maher celebrates his second goal. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Final bound

Tipperary outgun Clare to set up Kilkenny rematch

Bonner Maher was crucial in Tipp’s win.

Tipperary 2-24

Clare 2-17

TIPPERARY AND CLARE served up high-scoring second Allianz National Hurling League semi-final in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, this afternoon but it was Bonner Maher’s two goals that proved the difference between the two sides as Tipperary came out on top.

Clare had the better start, finding the net after just four minutes, Cathal McInerney scrambling home after powering his way through the Tipp defence to cancel out early points from Seamus Callanan and John O’Dwyer.

The game quietened down after that frantic opening, but Tipperary were taking more of their chances and found themselves with a four point lead midway through the first half when Patrick Maher steamed through on goal to make it 1-7 t0 1-3.

Their lead was as high as nine approaching half-time but late scores from Tony Kelly and David McInerney reduced Clare’s deficit to seven points at the break, 1-14 to 1-7.

Just as they had done in first, Clare started the second half the stronger, again finding the net within four minutes of the throw-in. This time Patrick Donnellan was the first to react to a block and – combined with Colin Ryan’s third free of the game – Tipp’s lead was now just three.

However, Tipperary and Maher had the answer yet again and with an almost carbon copy of his first effort, raced through on goal and gave Donal Tuohy no chance to make it 2-14 to 2-8.

Despite Clare’s best efforts, they were twice within three points twice in the last ten minutes, Tipperary kept edging away and it’s Eamon O’Shea’s men who’ll take on Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling League final on May 4.

Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 0-12 (0-6f, 0-2 ’65, 0-1 pen), Patrick Maher 2-0, Niall O’Meara 0-3, Shane Bourke, John O’Dwyer (0-1f) 0-2 each, James Barry, James Woodlock, Denis Maher, Noel McGrath, Gearoid Ryan, 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Colin Ryan 0-5 (0-4f), Cathal McInerney, Patrick Donnellan 1-1 each, Tony Kelly, Conor McGrath, Colm Galvin, Podge Collins 0-2 each, David McInerney, John Conlon 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Darren Gleeson; Cathal Barrett, Padraic Maher, Michael Cahill; James Barry, Brendan Maher, Conor O’Mahony; Kieran Bergin, James Woodlock; Noel McGrath, Patrick Maher, John O’Dwyer; Denis Maher, Seamus Callanan, Niall O’Meara.

Subs: Gearoid Ryan for Denis Maher (47), Shane McGrath for Noel McGrath (53), Shane Bourke for O’Dwyer (62), Michael Breen for Woodlock (68).

CLARE: Donal Tuohy; Jack Browne, Cian Dillon, David McInerney; Brendan Bugler, Patrick O’Connor, Patrick Donnellan; Conor Ryan, Colm Galvin; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Colin Ryan; Conor McGrath, Padraic Collins, Cathal McInerney.

Subs: Peter Duggan for Cathal McInerney (half-time), Sean Collins for Galvin (62), Aaron Cunningham for Conlon (67).

LIVE: Clare v Tipperary, Division 1 hurling league semi-final

VIDEO: King Henry in fine form as Kilkenny reach another league final

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