U20: Tipp and Cork win out in tight Munster battles

Cork and Tipperary both progressed to the EirGrid Munster U20 hurling semi-finals after hard-fought wins over Clare and Limerick respectively this evening.

In Ennis, reigning champions Cork eliminated the hosts from the championship thanks to a final quarter surge, notching seven of the final nine scores to win by two.

With Munster split into two groups of three, Clare were tossed into a must-win encounter after a highly unfortunate one-point (3-07 to 0-15) point loss to Limerick last weekend.

The home side started impressively, leading 0-09 to 0-05. Cork began the second half brightly, Diarmuid Healy's 44th minute goal nudging them in front for the first time. Shane Meehan's stunning individual goal restored Clare's lead and they held a three point advantage with 15 minutes remaining.

However, Cork came strong in the closing stretch. Points from the likes of Brian O'Sullivan, Ethan Twomey, Colin Walsh and a couple of frees from Eoin O'Leary enabled them to overhaul the deficit and secure their place in the Munster semi-final, Limerick along with them from Group A.

In Group B in Munster, Tipperary nailed down their place in the semi-finals with a second successive win, holding off Waterford to triumph by four in Semple Stadium.

Kyle Shelly struck 1-11 in total, his goal early in the second half briefly allowing Tipperary some breathing space after a ferociously even first half.

Padraig Fitzgerald replied for the visitors to level the game at 1-13 apiece, the lead switching sides numerous times until Peter McGarry's 55th minute goal enabled the hosts to kick for home. Tipp eventually ran out 2-21 to 1-20 winners, their second win of their U20 campaign after their 11-point win away to Kerry last week.

Waterford can confirm their