Despite Grainne Rafferty scoring a late penalty, Clare booked a home tie in the Quarter-Finals via the head to head rule, as they played out a draw with Tyrone in Longford.

The top two in group 2, were always going to put on a show, the weather caused issued but we were treated to a great game of football, Clare may feel they should have held onto a four point lead going into the last minutes, but the prize of a home tie, travels with them back to Munster this evening.

They performed well, Siofra Ni Chonaill at the back was solid, their forward’s again potent, while Laurie Ryan covered every blade of grass at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Tyrone no slouches either, will be a force in the knockout stages.

It was a slow start to proceedings as the elements played a part in both sides missing some early scores, Tyrone however settled come the right minute, in a sixty second burst Maria Canavan found the opening score with a free before Emma Jane Garvin flicked home the opening goal, the midfielder quick to tap the loose ball home.

Caitlin Campbell made it a five point lead at the end of the opening quarter, before Aisling Reidy and Fidelma Marrinan got the Banner on the board, 0-5 to 0-2. Aoife Horisk was quick however to notch a further score for the Red Hand County.

Lizzy Roche got Clare’s third point, but after the score was forced off with injury after colliding with a Tyrone player, Aisling Reidy then drew Clare level with a fine worked goal on the half hour mark, Chloe Moloney and Maria Canavan swapped frees in added time to leave it 1-4 a piece at the break.

Sasha Byrne nudged Tyrone ahead with a point in the opening seconds of the second half, but scores from Amy Sexton and Marrinan had the Banner back in the lead minutes later, Marnian and Moloney kept up the scoring, with ten elapsed in the second half they built a lead, 1-8 to 1-5.

Megan Downes then hit the back of the Tyrone net and from that the lead was out to six points, but seven minutes later a high ball in from a long way out, saw Emma Jane Gervin grab her second goal, the midfielder was the one who played the pass, it was looking for Byrne inside, but bounced over her and Amy Lenihan in the Clare goal and into the net.

Back to a three point game, Laurie Ryan made it four as she kicked a late point, looked like a goal was on her mind but she fired over from close range, Tyrone stayed chasing and Grainne Rafferty pointed a late free to make it a three point game in the dying embers.

Drama late as Marrinan brought down Bryne in the area, the referee pointed for a penalty and Rafferty stepped up to dispatch the spot kick, a stalemate at half time, a stalemate at full time, but on head to head Clare will be happy to have secured their home status for the quarter final.