Galway 1-23 Clare 1-18:GALWAY CAUSED a major upset when they powered past Clare in extra-time at Croke Park yesterday. The Munster champions and last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists, Clare looked on course for a return to the final when they led by three in injury-time.

But a physically big Galway side launched a last-ditch effort that resulted in Gerard O’Donoghue bundling over an equalising goal to force extra-time, where Galway, inspired by captain Shane Maloney, maintained their momentum.

These two teams were hard luck stories in 2010, with 13 of the Galway squad involved in their heavy defeat by Kilkenny in the semi-final. Clare, however, were back with half the team unlucky to lose out in the final last September and after a slow start they began to assert themselves.

The teams were level on 0-3 each after 10 minutes but a polished Clare side began to pull clear when midfielders Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly came to the fore, while up front Cathal O’Connell and Aaron Cunningham threatened off every ball.

But with a physically powerful half-forward line Galway fought their way back and should have had a goal in the 18th minute when Gerard O’Donoghue’s overhead pull hit the side netting.

Outside of that, the Clare full- back line coped expertly with whatever was thrown at them and classy points from Shane O’Donnell and Cathal O’Connell sent the Banner in at half-time 0-9 to 0-5 in front.

But Galway made a blistering start to the second half, firing over four of the first five points. The introduction of the towering Jack Carr at full forward had a dramatic effect – so too Dean Higgins, and this new impetus had the sides level in the 43rd minute.

Clare looked to have struck a decisive blow when a great run by Cunningham set up Oisín Hickey to drill to the net – only for John Hanbary and Pádraig Brehony to reply and keep Galway in the hunt.

With the wind behind them it looked like Clare were doing enough to stay out of danger. But then in injury-time Galway’s powerful forwards drove Clare back in a ruck over a loose sliotar and it popped perfectly for Gerard O’Donoghue to flash to the net.

Clare’s Tony Kelly had a monstrous effort from a free come back off the post before full-time when it was announced extra-time would be played – to the surprise of both teams.

With the wind behind them, Galway dominated the first period of extra-time, with Shane Maloney rampant and took a 1-19 to 1-16 lead into the last 10 minutes. Conor Galvin moved from midfield into full forward and picked off an important score for Clare as they tried to come back.

But Clare ran out of steam against Galway’s array of big men, amongst whom Pádraig Brehony, Pádraic Mannion and Jonathan Glynn excelled.

Galway boss Mattie Murphy now seeks a sixth All-Ireland minor title when they meet wither Dublin or Waterford.

GALWAY:S Hannon; O Teagle, P Killeen, C Diviney; J Hanbary (0-1), S Sweeney, P Mannion; B Lane (0-1), P Brehony (0-2); J Flynn, J Glynn, A Tuohy; G O'Donoghue (1-2), S Maloney (0-10, 0-7 frees), K Cullinane. Subs: J Carr (0-3) for K Cullinane (half-time), D Higgins (0-2) for Tuohy (37 mins), B Molloy (0-1) for Lane (47 mins), M Mullins (0-1) for Flynn (53 mins), P Flaherty for G O'Donoghue (68 mins), S Caulfield for Killeen (73 mins), B Keane for Hanbury (79 mins).

CLARE:E Quilligan; S O'Brien, J Browne, S Morey; J Colleran, J Shanahan, G O'Connell; C Galvin (0-3), T Kelly (0-3, 0-1 free); E Enright, C O'Connell (0-5, 0-3 frees), P Duggan; S O'Donnell (0-2), O Hickey (1-0), A Cunningham (0-4). Subs: S Liddy for Enright (38 mins), M Moroney (0-1) for G O'Connell (45 mins), D Maloney for S Liddy (70 mins), G O'Connell for Hickey (77 mins).

Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny).