A fighting second-half display by Clare saw them past Cork in a thrilling semi-final at Thurles last evening.

Cork, the All-Ireland champions, were fancied to advance to the final against Tipperary and made most of the running in the first half, but some poor finishing saw them lead at the interval 0-6 to 0-5. In the second half, Clare, backed by the breeze, and with senior star Alan Markham in devastating form, shot five points without reply. Cathal McCarthy's goal in the 24th minute brought Cork within two points of their rivals.

Clare: G O'Connell; C Forde, K Kennedy, B Forde; B McMahon, J Reddin, G Malone; S Fitzpatrick, G Quinn 0-1; H Consodine 0-1, E Flannery 0-1, J Pyne 0-3; S Ryan 0-1, A Markham 0-7, B McMahon. Subs: T Carmody 0-1 (for Fitzpatrick).

Cork: B Rochford; M Prendergast, D O'Sullivan 0-3, L Mannix; P Sexton, W Sherlock, A Fitzpatrick; G O'Connor 0-1, J O'Callaghan; N Ronan 0-3, A Coughlan 0-3, E Fitzgerald; J Murphy, N Murphy, B O'Connor. Subs: C McCarthy 1-0 (for Murphy), M Morrissey (for Fitzgerald), M O'Callaghan (for J O'Callaghan).

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary)