Goal-hungry Derry pile hurt on Clare to reach All-Ireland semi-final

Rory Gallagher's Derry carried their Ulster championship momentum into Croke Park, demolishing Clare to reach a first All-Ireland semi-final for 18 years.

An authoritative and ruthless first-half display set the platform for the victory, Benny Heron and the magnificent Conor Glass blasting home goals after a cagey opening and Paul Cassidy rocketing another into the top stanchion just before half-time.

Clare were floundering from early on. Though they did rustle up a well-worked goal, rattled home by Pearse Lillis, it was all in vain, the score an intimidating 3-06 to 1-03 at the break.

Derry piled on the hurt early in the second half, conclusively shutting down any doubts about the eventual result.

Gareth McKinless mounted a characteristically bullocking run from deep, showing no mercy and lashing the ball to the net.

Shortly afterwards, the fifth arrived, the industrious Conor McCluskey raiding upfield and slipping a pass to the rampant Shane McGuigan who joined the goal-scoring party, firing into the corner.

Clare, by now well beaten, did mount a brief sortie, Eoin Cleary scoring a faintly surreal goal early in the second half - a finish from the ground after keeper Lynch was caught in no-man's land.

The rest of the game was a formality, Clare making a game effort to put some respectability on the scoreboard, Tubridy and Cleary landing scores.

McGuigan continued to fill his boots, winding up with 1-08 in total, eventually being called ashore to a rapturous reception.

More to follow...