Eleven points from Shane Dowling helped Limerick claim a 1-19 to 2-15 victory over Clare at Thurles.

Both sides gave everything is a thrilling second half, where two stunning goals from substitute Aaron Cunningham gave the Banner County real belief before fellow sub John Fitzgibbon nailed the winner at the other end two minutes from time.

With 21,493 spectators looking on, both teams finished the game with 14 men: Clare's Pat Donnellan was lined on the stroke of half time while Limerick substitute Seanie Tobin received his marching orders in the 55th minute, seconds after coming on.

Having played with the advantage of the breeze, the Treaty County led by the odd point from 17 at the interval and also received a major boost when Clare No.8 Donnellan was shown a straight red card seconds before the short whistle sounded.

The Banner introduced debutant Gearoid O'Connell to their starting XV in place of the injured Conor McGrath but it was Limerick who registered the first two scores courtesy of Paudie O'Brien and Dowling (free). But it was 0-3 each after ten minutes with Tony Kelly hitting a delightful score after Colin Ryan bookended another Dowling free with a couple of points.

Dowling (two frees) and impressive debutant Cian Lynch made it double scores before the latter replied to a Ryan free. Ryan (free) and O'Brien traded points and Shane Golden's point against the run of play followed by another Ryan free had Davy Fitz' men back within the minimum with ten minutes left before the break.

Only two points were scored in the last ten minutes of a disappointing first half, with Dowling and Ryan both successful from frees.

Dowling (65) and John Conlon pointed at either end upon the restart and Ryan shortened his grip to clip over his seventh point of the match and draw the 14 men level on 37 minutes.

Another Dowling free edged Limerick's noses back in front but the Banner wrested back the lead with scores from David Reidy and Conlon only for Graeme Mulcahy to tie the scores up for the fourth time on 43 minutes, 0-12 each.

Clare custodian Pa Kelly dealt well with an under-hit Cian Lynch effort but was powerless to prevent wing back Tom Condon's shot from soaring high and handsome between the posts. Dowling's eighth points (free) doubled the difference in the 13th minute of the second half and Clare substitute Aaron Cunningham announced his arrival off the bench by flashing a close-range shot over the bar.

Dowling arrowed over a stunning free into the teeth of the breeze to again make it a two-point game with 20 minutes remaining and the Na Piarsaigh clubman followed up with a monster free from almost 90 metres. A defining moment arrived in the 52nd minute when a Dowling shot dropped short and Mulcahy groundstroked the breaking ball to the Clare net: 1-16 to 0-13.

At the other end, almost immediately, Cunningham planted a brilliant shot into the bottom right corner of the net to give the 14 men a lifeline and former Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly followed up with a point from a nigh-on-impossible angle - 1-16 to 1-14.

With 15 minutes left, Limerick's numerical superiority was wiped out when substitute Tobin received a straight red card within seconds of entering the fray, receiving his marching orders for bouncing off Pat O'Connor (yellow).

The Treaty refused to panic and moved four clear with points from Lynch - his third - and Dowling (free) - his eleventh - but Clare were right back in the game when Cunningham sprinted through to dispatch his second goal to the corner of the net in the 64th minute: 1-18 to 2-14.

The battling Shane O'Donnell had been causing Limerick all sorts of trouble and it was fitting that he should strike his first score of the match to draw his side level again with four minutes remaining.

The momentum appeared to be with Clare but substitute John Fitzgibbon restored Limerick's lead with a brilliant point on 68 minutes and TJ Ryan's men withstood a nerve-shredding finale - including 80 seconds of injury time - to book a semi-final date at home to Tipperary in four weeks.

Limerick - B Hennessy; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; T Condon (0-1), G O'Mahony, S O'Brien (0-1); P O'Brien (0-1), J Ryan; P Browne, D Hannon, D O'Grady; C Lynch (0-3), S Dowling (0-11, 10f, 1'65), G Mulcahy (1-1). Subs: S Tobin for D O'Grady, D Morrissey for S Walsh, W McNamara for S Hickey, J Fitzgibbon (0-1) for J Ryan, K Downes for P Browne.

Clare - P Kelly; D O'Donovan, D McInerney, C Dillon; J Browne, Conor Ryan, P O'Connor; P Donnellan, S Golden (0-1); J Conlon (0-3), T Kelly (0-2), Colin Ryan (0-6, 5f); G O'Connell, S O'Donnell (0-1), D Reidy (0-1). Subs: A Cunningham (2-1) for D Reidy, S Morey for D O'Donovan, B Duggan for G O'Connell, D Honan for S Golden, N O'Connell for T Kelly.

Referee - C Lyons.

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