Munster MFC: Noel Downes masterminded a Clare comeback to take his side a step closer to a place in the last four at Limerick last evening.

Downes put the Banner county in front for the first time with a sweetly struck goal in 47 minutes, and they held firm to the finish.

CLARE: C O'Loughlin; T McMahon, N Moroney, M McMahon; S O'Connor (0-1), C Howley, J Hayes; S Hickey, K King (0-1); P Connole, C Lyons, D Ryan; S Moloney (0-1), E Troy (1-2), N Downes (1-3). Subs: G Lyons for T McMahon, M McMahon for Lyons, K Carrucane (0-1) for Connole, P Lynch for Carrucane.

LIMERICK: T Enright; S Browne, J Roche, D Woods; B Argue, M Boyce, S Crowley; J Ryan, M Galvin; JB Murphy, E Ryan (0-2), S O'Mahoney; M Kelly (1-0), D Dalton (0-2), B Sheehan (2-0). Subs: P O'Brien for Crowley, M Curtin for Murphy, D O'Connor for Sheehan.

Referee: G Lynch (Kerry).