Clare are through to the last four of the Munster MFC after defeating neighbours Limerick by 3-13 to 2-9 at Ennis.

It was a historic night as this was the first championship match completed since it was decided that the minor championship would be contested by U17 players instead of U18s.

Tonight's game at Cusack Park was done and dusted by the interval as the hosts had established a commanding eleven-point advantage, 2-9 to 0-4. Full forward Shane Meehan and corner man Mark McInerney registered 1-5 and 1-2 respectively for the Banner County during that opening half an hour, while Emmet McMahon weighed in with a couple of points.

The visitors battled gallantly and were unfortunate not to hit the net themselves inside the opening minute through captain John Hayes but all they had to show for their first-half efforts were three pointed frees from Patrick Gallagher and a lovely finish from full back Craig Carew.

Limerick made a fight of it in the second half but were unable to get themselves back into contention.

With the issue long since settled, the third quarter was a non-event as the teams notched just one point apiece during this spell. Paul O'Shaughnessy pulled back a consolation goal for the Treaty boys ten minutes from time and Hayes added another three minutes later, with McInerney registering his second and Clare's third major in between.

In the end, Clare were comfortable victors, despite substitute Dylan Maloney firing over four late frees for the visitors.

With a place in the provincial final up for grabs, the Banner County will be back in action on May 8^th when they square up to the winners of the losers' group, comprised of the three beaten sides in tonight's quarter-final fixtures (Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary).

The Treaty County are due to host the Premier County next Wednesday night and the winners will face Na Deise seven days later to see who provides semi-final opposition to Clare.

Clare - M Garrihy; J Reidy, D Connelly, J Murphy; C Carrig, C Rouine, A O'Connor; C Okoye (0-1), E McMahon (0-2f); T Kelly, C McDonagh (0-1), P O'Donoghue; S Meehan (1-6, 0-2f), K Keane, M McInerney (2-3). Subs: E Rouine for E McMahon, G D'Aurio for P O'Donoghue, S Talty for K Keane, T Lillis for C Okoye.

Limerick - K Walsh; S Bradshaw, C Carew (0-1), M O'Hanrahan; L Scannell, T Lyons, D O'Keeffe; J Molyneaux, J Hayes (1-0); K O'Kelly, L Gleeson, B Foley; P O'Shaughnessy (1-0), E Murphy, P Gallagher (0-4). Subs: D Kearns for L Scannell, D Maloney (0-4f) for L Gleeson, K Guinea for K O'Kelly, R O'Connor for T Lyons, L Gamell for B Foley, M Shanahan for D O'Keeffe.

Referee - P O'Driscoll.

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