Clare are through to the All-Ireland hurling semi-final following a 1-23 to 2-14 win over Galway at Semple Stadium.

The young Clare side had a grasp on the game from early on and despite a second half fightback from Galway – which saw the deficit reduced to 2 points at one stage in the final 10 minutes – they were able to maintain control of the game right up until the final whistle.

Joe Canning led the Galway line admirably, including setting up his side’s second goal, but missed two costly frees in the dying stages of the game. Ultimately the pre-match predictions of a serious bout of second season syndrome taking hold of Anthony Cunningham’s side was borne out, as Galway put in a team display that lacked anything approaching the levels reached last year when they pushed Kilkenny to an All-Ireland final replay.

With Galway joining Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford on the list of former contenders the championship’s final four doesn’t contain a single All-Ireland finalist since Limerick’s appearance in the 2007 decider.

Clare will face Limerick in the semi-final, while Dublin face Cork, who earlier this afternoon advanced following a win over reigning champions Kilkenny.