MUNSTER IHC SEMI-FINAL/Limerick 1-16 Clare 0-15:AN OPPORTUNIST goal by David Moloney 12 minutes into the second half sent Limerick on their way to the Munster intermediate final after a keen semi-final tussle with Clare in Thurles yesterday.

The win was no more than Limerick deserved as they were that bit sharper all through and finished the stronger to clinch their place in the decider against Tipperary.

Clare had the wind behind them in the first half, but, despite a lively start in which they went 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after four minutes, the sides were level 0-8 each at the break.

Clare were a point clear 12 minutes into the second half when Moloney swooped for what was to be the decisive score of the game - a goal that edged the winners 1-9 to 0-10 clear.

Limerick quickly extended their lead to five points, but Clare never gave up and it took two late Limerick points from David O'Neill and Paudie McNamara to seal their victory.

Former All Star Ciarán Carey - who retired from senior inter-county hurling two seasons ago - had a solid game at full back.

LIMERICK: B Hennessy; T Condon, C Carey, S Walsh; D Stapleton, Damien Moloney, P O'Brien; A Brennan (0-2), A O'Connor (0-1); David Moloney (1-2), P McNamara (0-4), D Hanley (0-1); D O'Neill (0-3), R McCarthy (0-2), P Harty (0-1). Subs: P O'Reilly for O'Connor, M McKenna for Hanley, S O'Neill for Walsh.

CLARE: S Hawes; M O Regan, S Torpey, C Cooney; A Fleming, E Collins, A McNamara (0-1); G Lyons (0-1), A Duggan; S Chaplin (0-5), N Sheedy (0-1), M Noone; Clive Early (0-1), P Chaplin, P Hickey (0-4). Subs: Conor Earley for Collins, D Browne (0-2) for Noone, P Reynolds for Duggan, E Harrisson for Conor Earley.

Referee: T Ryan (Tipperary).