Tipperary 2-19
Clare 0-20

Two second-half goals from Noel McGrath and James Woodlock heaped further Division 1A misery on Clare at Ennis today.

As a result of this five-point defeat,  Davy Fitzgerald's side remain rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points and are staring relegation in the face with two games to go.

Tipperary, on the other hand, now have four points from a possible six to their credit and will approach next weekend's round four fixture against Kilkenny in a positive frame of mind.

Seamus Callanan and John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer hit seven and four points respectively as the visitors changed ends with a 0-13 to 0-9 cushion.

Michael Breen extended their lead with the first score of the second-half and Clare were left with a mountain to climb after Noel McGrath put some daylight between the sides when pouncing for the Premier County's first goal in the 43rd minute.

McGrath's green flag left the Premier County 1-15 to 0-12 to the good and Clare just couldn't catch a break as Tipp goalkeeper Darren Gleeson kept a Tony Kelly goal bound effort at bay shortly after.

With so much at stake, it was no surprise that the Banner refused to throw in the towel and Conor Ryan's fourth point of the contest left them just three points in arrears - 0-18 to 1-18 - with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

Ryan reduced the gap to two with his fifth white flag five minutes later but, straight from the resulting puck out, Tipperary went straight down the field and midfielder Woodlock nipped Clare's hopes of a comeback in the bud when netting his side's second goal.

Tipperary - D Gleeson; C Barrett, C O'Mahony, C O'Brien; M Breen (0-2), P Maher, R Maher; K Bergin, J Woodlock (1-0); C Kenny, J O'Dwyer (0-4, 2f), N O'Meara; N McGrath (1-0), S Callanan (0-7, 5f), J McGrath (0-5). Subs: J Forde (0-1) for C Kenny, G Ryan for N O'Meara, S McGrath for N McGrath, S Bourke for J McGrath, T Stapleton for J Woodlock.

Clare - P Kelly; P Flanagan, C Dillon, D McInerney; B Bugler, Conor Ryan (0-5), P O'Connor; P Donnellan, C Galvin (0-1); Colin Ryan (0-8f), T Kelly (0-2, 1f), S Golden; C McGrath (0-1), S O'Donnell (0-1), J Conlon (0-2). Subs: A Cunningham for S Golden, S Morey for P Donnellan, C Cleary for B Bugler.

Referee - B Gavin.

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