Round-up
Clare's involvement in the 2003 hurling championship came to an untimely end in Ennis this evening where Galway triumphed by the narrowest of margins, 1-15 to 2-11.
Clare, without their suspended captain Seanie McMahon and influential midfielder Colin Lynch, were a different side from the one soundly beaten by Cork last weekend and both teams served up a thriller at Cusack Stadium.
A stunning goal from Barry Murphy, who tormented his marker before unleashing a ferocious strike, gave Clare the early initiative before Galway, playing their first championship match of the season, began settling into the contest.
Led from the front by Kevin Broderick, the Tribesmen began to pick off the points and Galway went into the interval with a narrow 0-10 to 1-6 advantage.
The ebb and flow continued after the break with neither side able to gain the upper-hand. Clare lost star forward Jamsie O'Connor through injury midway through the half and when Ollie Fahy notched a goal in the 55th minute it appeared the Banner County's resistance may have been broken.
But Cyril Lynch's ward refused to lie down and within 60 seconds a Griffin goal had them back on terms. The sides continued to trade scores and when, deep in injury-time with Galway leading by a point, Niall Gilligan was awarded a free 60 metres from goal, a creditable draw looked to be on the cards. But the Sixmilebridge star's effort sailed to the right and wide, leaving Clare out in the cold.
In Clones, Monaghan raced into an early lead against a dispirited Westmeath in their senior football championship qualifier but only just survived a second-half comeback to win 0-14 to 1-9.
With just seven minutes on the clock, the Ulster county were five points to the good, centre forward Thomas Freeman running riot in the Westmeath backline.
The introduction of Carl Hensen on a man-marking detail did stem the tide somewhat, but the free-taking of Paul Finlay ensured they went into the break with a commanding 0-9 to 0-2 lead.
Westmeath upped the ante in the second-half but wave after wave of attack failed to yield the crucial scores. The writing appeared to be on the wall, especially when Dessie Dolan skewed a goal-chance horribly wide, until 20 minutes from the end when the Westmeath forwards finally found their shooting boots.
Dolan grabbed a goal and with the clock ticking down Westmeath closed to within a point. However, as the match entered injury time, another Finley free put daylight between the teams and sent Monaghan in the next round.
Meanwhile, Kildare produced a surprise upset in the Leinster Football semi-final when they overturned favourites Meath in the evening throw-in at Croke Park.
Meath stormed into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes and looked to be justifying their favourites tag. However, they failed score another point in the half and Kildare went into the break 0-11 to 1-3 ahead.
Meath proceeded to claw their way back in the second period, reducing the deficit to a point with time running out. However, Daithi Regan missed a kickable free at the death and Kildare recorded a famous win by 0-15 to 1-11.
In the other Senior Hurling Championship qualifier, Tipperary were rampant to defeat Laois by 3-28 to 0-13.
The Guinness Ulster Hurling semi-final was also a very one-sided affair with Antrim trouncing their neighbours Derry 3-21 to 1-12.