GAA: Defending All-Ireland champions Tipperary weather late Clare charge to win 3-16 to 0-28

All-Ireland champions Tipperary reached the semi-final stage for the ninth time in eleven years when they held off the challenge of a wasteful Clare side to win by 0-28 to 3-16 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The champions were always in control in the first major match at the redeveloped Cork venue, but their suspect defence was prised open far too easily by a Clare side who shot 18 wides.

Tipperary manager Michael Ryan knows his defence will have to improve if they are to retain their crown, but their ability to pick off points from all angles ensured they had enough wriggle room to survive.

Tipperary hit 0-23 from play on a day when they also recorded 13 wides.

Two goals in the space of a minute gave Clare hope in the opening half but it was Tipperary who deservedly led by 0-16 to 2-5 at the interval.

Tipperary would have been out of sight had Aaron Cunningham not punished slack defending to blast to the net after 19 minutes after being set up by Conor McGrath.

He repeated the dose inside a minute, Shane O'Donnell this time setting him up and the Wolfe Tones clubman again supplied a good finish.

That tied the match at 2-3 to 0-9 after Tipperary had done most of the early running with the McGrath brothers John and Noel getting them off the mark, while Seamus Callanan regularly hit the target from play and frees.

The Tipperary response to the goals was excellent with Michael Breen, Patrick 'Bonner' Maher and Callanan all shooting points.

James Shanahan and Conor McGrath responded for Clare but their short puckout strategy from Andrew Fahy regularly got them in trouble and allowed Tipperary to finish the half strongly.

Callanan, wing-back Seamus Kennedy, John 'Bubble' O'Dwyer and John McGrath struck points to leave Tipperary ahead by 0-16 to 2-5 in front at the break.

Shane O'Donnell pulled back a point for Clare shortly after the restart but Tipperary pulled away again with O'Dwyer pointing, while Callanan flashed a great goal chance over the crossbar.

Kelly responded with three frees for Clare to keep them in touch, although John McGrath's fourth point from play made it 0-19 to 2-9 after 48 minutes.

Two more points from Noel McGrath either side of another one from his brother John saw Tipperary take a 0-22 to 2-9 lead into the final quarter.

But the crowd of 28,567 were treated to an exciting finish when Clare, after David Reidy and 'Bonner' Maher exchanged points, took over.

They hit six points in a blistering seven-minute spell with Tony Kelly getting the onslaught moving with a good point from play.

Peter Duggan, Colm Galvin, David Reidy, Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath fired over points to cut the gap to the minimum at 0-23 to 2-16 with five minutes remaining.

But Tipperary didn't panic and they sealed the win with five points in succession in a very strong finish to book their place in the last four, although their suspect defence was opened again in the final play when McInerney got a late consolation goal for Clare.

Tipperary: D Mooney; D Maher, T Hamill, J Barry; S Kennedy (0-1), R Maher, Pádraic Maher; B Maher (0-1f), M Breen (0-1); N McGrath (0-4), Patrick Maher (0-2), D McCormack; J O'Dwyer (0-4, 1f), S Callanan (0-7, 3f), J McGrath (0-6).

Subs: Sean O'Brien for Barry (45), J Forde (0-1) for Breen (60), N O'Meare for O'Dwyer (68), Steven O'Brien (0-1) for Callanan (70).

Clare: A Fahy, S Morey, P O'Connor, C Dillon; D Fitzgerald, C Cleary, J Shanahan (0-1); C Galvin (0-1), T Kelly (0-6, 4f); C Malone, P Collins, J Conlon; S O'Donnell (0-2), A Cunningham (2-0), C McGrath (0-2).

Subs: P Duggan (0-1 for Conlon (33), D Reidy (0-2f) for Collins (53), C McInerney (1-1) for Malone (57), J McCarthy for Kelly (66).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).