Tony Kelly hits hat-trick as Clare make short work of Dublin

A Tony Kelly hat-trick laid down a marker of Clare's progress and gave them a semi-final shot at redemption against Kilkenny in a fortnight's time.

Three goals either side of half-time ended a Dublin challenge fatally wounded by Donal Burke’s early withdrawal.

Clare will carry their own injury worries forward to the final four, with John Conlon suffering a head injury and Shane O’Donnell picking up a knock, joining Conor Cleary, Aidan McCarthy, and David McInerney on the sidelines.

Regardless, the Banner showed killer instinct, after a flat opening quarter pock-marked by seven wides, to ease through a first meeting of these counties in 11 years.

The final margin came to 18 points, a far cry from the nervy comeback they required to surpass Wexford at this stage last year as Brian Lohan’s side continue to evolve.

There was a surprise full debut for Darragh Lohan, a nephew of Brian, at corner-back, with McInerney on the bench.

They suffered another loss when Conlon was injured in a heavy collision under the high ball. He was on the ground for a couple of minutes before walking off, replaced by Paul Flanagan as Rory Hayes stepped into the half-back line.

Diarmuid Ryan had started at centre-back with a brief to both track Burke and make him follow Ryan's upfield bursts.

But Burke, too, exited as early as the eighth minute. Having slipped attempting his first two shots, he left feeling the effects of an apparent hamstring strain.

James Madden and Paul Crummey (0-03) had been late starters in place of John Bellew and Seán Currie, while Fergal Whitely replaced Burke in a reshuffled line-up.

By then, they were already 1-02 to no score behind, Kelly rifling to the bottom corner when fastest to a breaking ball.

Cian O’Sullivan (0-11, 10