Tipp 1-17 Clare 0-17: Tipperary held on grimly for a narrow win over Clare in a lively Munster under-21 hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium, Thurles, last night.

After a lively opening quarter - at the end of which the sides were level at six points each - Tipperary got on top. Inspired by a Daragh Egan goal in the 18th minute, the home side pulled steadily away to reach the interval with a 1-12 to 0-7 lead.

However, it was a completely different story after the break. With the breeze behind them, the Clare side pressed strongly - scoring six points to Tipperary's one in just seven minutes to cut the lead to a goal.

And Tipperary had their backs to the wall as Clare kept up the pressure and, with nine minutes to go, only a single point separated the sides.

However, with Egan, Niall Teehan, James Woodlock, Conor O'Brien and Paddy Stapleton spearheading Tipperary, the home side held their nerve and points by Stephen Lillis and Teehan put them a goal clear going into injury-time.

The visitors - with Cathal Lafferty, Jonathon Clancy, Tyrone Kearse, Mark Flaherty and James McInerney leading the comeback - threw everything into attack, however, in a hectic climax, Tipperary held on for a place in the final against Cork.

TIPPERARY: G Kennedy (0-1); P Stapleton, A Burns, C O'Brien; D Young, J McCarthy, S Horan; J Woodlock (0-1), S Lillis (0-3); R O'Dwyer (0-1), N Teehan (0-3), D Sheppard; R Ruth (0-2), D Egan (1-5), R McLoughney (0-1). Subs: K Lanigan for Horan, D Hickey for Sheppard.

CLARE: K Devitt; B Bugler, E Collins, A Kilmartin; J McInerney, P Donnellan, M Hawes; M O'Hanlon, J Clancy (0-2); S O'Brien, C Lafferty (0-1), T Kearse (0-3); B Gaffney (0-1), M Flaherty (0-7), D O'Halloran (0-2); Subs: G Arthur (0-1) for O'Hanlon, Danny O'Halloran for Gaffney, C Ryan for O'Brien.

Referee: D Richardson (Limerick).