Clare inflicted a humiliating 4-22 to 2-19 defeat on All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the second of today's league semi-finals at Thurles.

The Banner County, who will meet holders Waterford in the decider, were dominant in every sector as they stretched their winning run in the current calendar year to an incredible eleven game.

Three-pointers from Man of the Match Aaron Cunningham (2) and John Conlon helped the Saffron & Blue assume a commanding 3-12 to 0-10 interval advantage. Brian Cody's men never really got going as the underdogs advanced at their absolute ease.

Conor McGrath (free) and Richie Hogan swapped early points and the Banner led by three after eight minutes thanks to Cunningham, McGrath ('65') and Podge Collins. McGrath clipped over his third free from the right wing on ten minute and an exchange between TJ Reid and Cunningham left four between them after 14 minutes, 0-6 to 0-2.

After Kevin Kelly had pulled one back, an uncharacteristic mix-up in the Cats defence allowed Conlon to poke the sliothar to the net on 15 minutes and Davy Fitz's men followed up with a Cunningham beauty to leave seven between the teams.

Reid (free) and Jonjo Farrell pulled back a couple of points but Cunningham registered Clare's second major in the 20th minute when his meekly-struck low shot evaded Eoin Murphy to hit the back of the net, 2-7 to 0-5.

Colm Galvin stretched the gap and Reid replied from a simple free after Patrick Kelly denied Hogan a Kilkenny goal with his right foot.

Padraig Walsh saw his point cancelled out by Galvin before Cunningham took advantage of more slack defending to plunder the winners' third major in the 25th minute - 3-9 to 0-7! Reid clipped over a free but Clare replied with a third terrific Galvin point, this one from distance along the right sideline.

John Power closed the gap to ten on 30 minutes but Cunningham (2-3 in the first half) and Conlon hit back before Kevin Kelly notched Kilkenny's tenth point three minutes from the break. As the short whistle sounded, the 2013 All-Ireland champions had eleven points to spare.

McGrath and Padraig Walsh traded the first two scores of the second half and McGrath slotted another '65' before Reid's 21-yard free pinballed through the Clare defence to the back of the net in the 42nd minute. But the Banner still led by nine, 3-14 to 1-11…

Reid (free) and Cillian Buckley kept the revival going and Collins swept one over at the other end, only for Walter Walsh to reply instantly. Honan's 49th-minute point made it 3-16 to 1-14.

On the stroke of 50 minutes, McGrath sent a bullet to the top left corner of the net for Clare's fourth goal; Tony Kelly came off the bench to add two points; Jonjo Farrell replied with a Kilkenny major - 4-18 to 2-14 with a quarter of the match remaining.

Walter Walsh and Reid (2) reduced the arrears to seven with ten minutes remaining but Galvin hit back with his fourth of the day and substitute Cathal O'Connell grabbed himself a score as Clare remained in complete control.

McGrath and Galvin added injury-time points for the impressive winners, who will go into the decider with a real spring in their step.

Clare - P Kelly; O O'Brien, C Dillon, P Flanagan; C Cleary, P O'Connor, D Fitzgerald; B Bugler, C Galvin (0-5); J Conlon (1-1), C McGrath (1-6, 0-2f, 0-2'65), D Reidy (0-1); P Collins (0-1), D Honan (0-2), A Cunningham (2-3). Subs: T Kelly (0-2) for J Conlon, C O'Connell (0-1) for D Honan, C Ryan for D Reidy, A Shanagher for A Cunningham, B Duggan for P Collins.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; J Tyrrell, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh (0-2), K Joyce, C O'Shea; L Ryan, C Buckley (0-1); W Walsh (0-2), TJ Reid (1-7, 1-6f), K Kelly (0-2); J Power (0-1), J Farrell (1-1), R Hogan (0-1). Subs: B Kennedy for J Tyrrell, L Blanchfield for C O'Shea, C Bolger (0-2) for K Kelly.

Referee - F Horgan.

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