An own goal by Clare wing back Seanie Malone early in the second half helped Kerry on their way to a flattering nine-point win in this ESB Munster MFC semi-final clash at Austin Stack Park. Kerry 2-10 Clare 1-4 The visitors, who opened the scoring through Cathal McInerney in the 10th minute, enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half, but over-elaboration and wasteful finishing cost them dearly as Kerry went into the break ahead by 0-5 to 0-4. Clare were still trailing by a point when disaster struck in the 34th minute when Kerry centre back Jeremy Hoare's fisted effort rebounded off the post, only to hit the luckless Malone and cannon into the net. The Kingdom then took control with points from Eanna O'Connor, Donal O'Sullivan and Michael Brennan, but Clare were handed a lifeline when Conor Ryan netted in the 47th minute. However, Kerry were not to be denied and a 56th minute goal from O'Connor sealed their place in the final against Tipperary for the second year-in-a-row. Kerry - P O'Sullivan; M Galvin, P Galvin, N Fitzgerald; M Finnegan, J Hoare, D Wren; S Carroll 0-2, D Doody; I Galvin, J Sherwood 0-1, M Brennan 0-1; N O'Shea 0-1, E O'Connor 1-2, D O'Sullivan 0-2. Subs - K Hurley for I Galvin, J O'Sullivan for D Doody, M Griffin for M Finnegan, P O'Connor for D Wren, M Reen 0-1 for J Sherwood. Clare - W Deloughhrey; M O'Connor, Sean Brennan, G Johnson; S Collins, E Malone, S Malone; K O'Connor, Shane Brennan; D Sexton 0-1, C Ryan 1-0, S Tierney; C McInerney 0-3, E Finucane, C Nolan. Subs: M Malone for C Nolan, S Lynch for E Finnucane, C King for S Tierney, E Fitzgerald for S Brennan, D O'Neill for C Ryan. Ref - D O'Mahony (Tipperary ). Tweet

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