Clare and Waterford progress to Munster U21 final

Clare cantered through to the Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under-21 Hurling final with a superb display against Limerick in tonight's semi-final at Cusack Park.

The Banner youngsters, managed by John Minogue, secured a 4-22 to 2-13 to overwhelm a committed Limerick side.

Minogue's charges certainly showed their eagerness to win this title for the first time after falling to a controversial one-point defeat to Tipperary in last year's decider.

Clare have a sprinkling of senior players in their panel, including free-taker Colin Ryan who impressed in the 2009 Munster Senior Championship.

Ryan scored three goals and a hatful of points in this Ennis encounter, during which Darach Horan also netted for the victors.

Limerick led early on, with Tommy O'Brien collecting an early goal, but Clare's fluent and fast hurling saw them muscle ahead for a 2-14 to 2-07 half-time lead.

O'Brien intercepted a pass and teed up Shane O'Donnell for a goal out of nothing before the break, but Clare responded in brilliant fashion.

Liam Markham, Honan, dual player Sean Collins and Caimin Morey all pointed as Clare pulled ahead by seven points.

Limerick brought on team captain Brian O'Sullivan for the second half, with a thigh injury relegating him to the bench.

But the change had little effect as Clare opened the second period with four successive points, three of them from Ryan frees.

Limerick heads began to drop as Morey and Honan combined to set up a second goal for Ryan and then the Newmarket-on-Fergus clubman made it a hat-trick.

He blasted a 42nd minute penalty past Barry Hennessy and his defenders, moving Clare into a 4-19 to 2-08 lead.

Points from Paul Browne and Seanie Tobin restored some pride for Limerick but they were shellshocked and Clare were simply too good.

In tonight's other semi-final, reigning champions Tipperary crashed out of the competition on the end of a 3-21 to 2-13 defeat by Waterford.

Hosts Waterford dominated the second half, with Maurice Shanahan, a second half substitute in last Sunday's senior final, finishing with 0-13 in all.

Tipp took an early 1-03 to 0-01 lead at Fraher Field, with senior panellist Pa Bourke striking the game's first goal.

But two quick-fire goals from Thomas Connors and Thomas Ryan put the Deise side ahead.

Two late frees from Shanahan helped the underdogs to a 2-06 to 1-08 half-time lead, in front of a 4,000-strong crowd that included Waterford senior manager Davy Fitzgerald.

Tipp made a real fight of it throughout the second half, but a second goal from Ryan, two minutes from the finish, sent a determined Waterford outfit through to their second Munster final at this grade in three years.

Waterford have not been crowned Munster Under-21 champions since 1994. The upcoming final, to be played on July 29, will be the first Clare v Waterford decider since 1992 when Waterford emerged victorious by 0-17 to 1-12.