ALL-IRELAND IHC/Clare 2-18 Galway 2-9:CLARE SURVIVED an early Galway onslaught to record a merited nine-point victory and reach the All-Ireland Intermediate hurling final against Kilkenny in a fortnight's time.

Two Galway goals by Brian Murphy and Kevin Keehan inside 90 seconds rocked Clare but the home side replied with a goal of their own through Pádraig Hickey in the fourth minute and at half-time, Galway led by 2-7 to 1-7.

Few in the 3,554 crowd could have predicted the outcome at that stage but a rejuvenated Clare blew Galway away in the second-half.

Niall Gilligan fired over a Clare point to reduce the gap to two inside a minute of the restart and then Galway replied with a pair of scores, a Joe O’Leary 65 and a Keehan free.

Keehan’s score in the 38th proved to be the visitors’ last of the game as Clare went on to take control and register a goal and eight points to no reply.

CLARE: A Fahy; M Earley, P Kelly, A Brigdale; K Moynihan, M Hawes, J Fennessy; R Keane (0-1), S Golden (0-1); M Duggan (0-1), T Carmody (0-2), K Dilleen (0-1); D O’Rourke, N Gilligan (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-2 65s), P Hickey (1-4). Subs: J O’Connor (1-0) for O’Rourke (39 mins).

GALWAY: K O’Grady; A Leech, D McClearn, P Holland; J O’Leary (0-1, 65), D Hayes, B Mahoney; K Brady, N Callanan; F Healy, K Kilkenny, E Concannon; C Kavanagh, K Keehan (1-6, 0-4 frees), B Murphy (1-2). Subs: J Cooney for Concannon (22 mins), B Hanley for Kavanagh (27 mins), K Burke for Callanan (33 mins), M Corcoran for Hanley (49 mins), R Gantley for Kilkenny (56 mins).

Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).