U20 hurling wrap: Clare down Tipp with storming finish
Clare scored 2-01 in time added on to get the better of Tipperary in a dramatic Fulfil Munster Hurling Under-20 Championship clash at FBD Semple Stadium.
The Banner, with three wins from three, advance to a provincial final, while the Premier County will progress to a semi-final regardless of what happens in their final round-robin clash with Limerick where they will face Cork.
The hosts led by two at the break, Cormac Fitzpatrick's green flag ensuring a 1-06 to 0-07 advantage.
Tipp had their noses in front throughout the second half, Tiarnan Ryan’s goal with eight minutes remaining pushing their advantage out to seven points.
When the clock entered the final minute, the gap was half a dozen before Daniel Costello found the back of the net for Clare. Incredibly they raised a second green flag in as many minutes when Marco Cleary levelled matters.
With the momentum firmly behind them, Costello sealed a dramatic win with the final score of the game as the Banner prevailed 2-15 to 2-14.
The other game in Munster was equally as close, with Waterford ensuring Limerick’s wait for a first win will continue until the last round.
It was a first Munster win for the Déise, but two points behind Cork and Tipperary in second and third place respectively, they are unable to qualify for the semi-final.
Waterford were the better side in the opening 30 minutes at TUS Gaelic Grounds, finding the back of the net in just the fifth minute, though shortly after Eoin Brosnan cancelled that out with a green flag for the Treaty men as they trailed 1-05 to 1-10 at the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half and the gap was extended to seven points, but Limerick never threw in the towel, picking off the final three points in injury-time as they were edged out by the bare minimum - 1-18 to 1-17
In Leinster, Galway followed in the footsteps of their senior counterparts by getting the better of Kilkenny and seal their place in the semi-final.
The Tribesmen made it three wins from three with a 2-18 to 1-19 win at Laois Hire O'Moore Park.
First-half goals from Brian Callanan and Jack Shaughnessy meant Galway held a two-point cushion at the break.
A Patrick Leacy penalty in the final minute for the Cats reduced the gap to a single point before a Shaughnessy free sealed the deal for Galway, for whom senior players Jason Rabbitte and Aaron Niland were in action.
Jason Rabbitte was playing against the Cats for the second time in four days
Dublin also directly advanced to a last-four spot after topping Group 2 with a comfortable 20-point win over Offaly at Glenisk O'Connor Park.
The path to a Leinster final became a little more clear with Wexford, who dismantled Kildare 5-28 to 2-14, set to take on a Laois side that had five points to spare over Meath in Kildalkey.
The other quarter-final pits Offaly against Kilkenny.
