All-Ireland champions Clare are just 70 minutes away from retaining the Waterford Crystal Cup after coasting to a 2-28 to 1-4 victory over UCC at Sixmilebridge.

The Banner were far too strong for the students, for whom All-Ireland final hat-trick hero Shane O'Donnell made a second half appearance. Davy Fitzgerald's charges signalled their intent by racing into an early 1-6 to 0-0 lead with Colin Ryan finding the net from a penalty.

UCC, who also lost the Canon O'Brien Cup final to Cork yesterday, rallied to trail by 1-3 to 1-10 at the break, but Clare took complete control in the second half with Davy O'Halloran accounting for their second goal.

Clare must wait to find out who their final opponents will be after the other semi-final between Tipperary and UL was postponed due to an unplayable pitch in Nenagh.

Clare - P Kelly; S Morey, D McInerney, C Dillon (0-1); B Bugler, P Donnellan (0-2), P O'Connor; L Markham, P Duggan (0-1); J Conlon (0-3), C O'Connell (0-2), Colin Ryan (1-12, 1-0 pen, 0-7f); D O'Halloran (1-1), C McGrath (0-2), D Reidy (0-1). Subs: C McInerney (0-2) for McGrath, J Shanahan (0-1) for Duggan, C Cleary for O'Connor, P Flanagan for Morey, N O'Connell for Dillon.

UCC - D McCarthy; S Maher, D Glynn, D Lestor; J Barry (0-1'65), C Murphy, S Roche; R O'Shea, D O'Mahony; T Butler, M Sugrue, B Hartnett; A Cadogan, J Ahern (0-3f), P Deasy (1-0). Subs: N Purcell for Barry, S O'Donnell for O'Shea, M O'Driscoll for Maher, A Goold for Glynn PJ Hall for McCarthy.

Referee - M Wadding. Tweet

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