The sharpshooting Callanan made his first appearance of the 2009 league and team captain Ryan returned from injury as the defending champions continued their run as the only unbeaten team in the top flight.

Clare were tasting their third successive defeat of the campaign and with games to come against Cork, Kilkenny, Dublin and Galway, Mike McNamara's men are staring at the drop.

The 3,095 spectators present in Thurles watched Tipp edge a closely-fought first half. The hosts led by 0-12 to 0-10 at the break with Ryan landing seven points - four from placed balls.

Their left half-back Diarmaid Fitzgerald was in outstanding form, clearing a number of key balls and putting in some deft passes.

Clare had the early wind advantage and after falling 0-12 to 0-6 behind by the 27th minute, the Banner men rallied with successive points from Barry Nugent, Niall Gilligan, Colin Ryan and Tony Griffin.

While Ryan accounted for the majority of Tipp's first half scores, Callanan, Noel McGrath, Thomas Stapleton and Paul Kelly also found the target.

The Premier county started the second half in strong fashion with a couple of points from Callanan and another from McGrath.

Defender Gerry Quinn sent over an inspirational free for Clare, splitting the posts from inside his own half.

Clare lost Tony Griffin to a yellow card with Caimin Morey coming on in his place, and Brian O'Connell was also pressed into action after Diarmuid McMahon saw yellow.

Tipp introduced Shane Maher for the yellow-carded Benny Dunne but it was business as usual for the champions as points from Callanan, Stapleton, John O'Brien and substitute Lar Corbett helped open up a six-point gap for them.

Jonathan Clancy, Ryan and the very effective Barry Nugent notched some well-taken points for Clare in reply.

But any hopes the visitors had of a comeback win were quashed when a penalty effort from Ryan was saved by evergreen Tipp goalkeeper Brendan Cummins.