Clare are semi-final bound, overcoming Westmeath by six points as Fidelma Marrinan scored 2-9 in a player of the match display.

Antrim now await Clare, who made the semi-finals last year only to fall at the final hurdle, Wayne Freeman’s charges have been impressive this year, another strong display over a valiant Westmeath side, getting them into the final four.

Aoife Connolly scored 2-6, which kept Westmeath fighting in the tie, but for large spells of the game, Clare were in control after a lightning start and built on that into the second half.

The Banner started as they meant to go on, Ailsing Reidy with the opening score after three minutes, Chloe Moloney stuck to the net seconds later, before Marrinan hit two goals and a point, putting Clare in the driving seat 3-2 to no score after ten minutes.

Connolly got Westmeath on the board after 11 minutes, but Marrinan was quick to cancel out that score, but by the 20 minute mark, the Westmeath forward had three on the board for her side as they trailed by nine.

Marrinan made it ten with another fine score, but Westmeath hit back in the final ten minutes of the opening half, Connolly with a point and two quick goals, before Rachel Dillion added a point and Karen Hegarty hit the back of the net, putting Westmeath ahead, 3-5 to 3-4, but Marrinan at the end of the half added yet another point to level the tie at half time.

Like the first half it was Clare who came out the better, in a ten minute window they kicked five points to build a lead, Marrinan with four along with Amy Sexton chipping in with a point, Vicky Carr ended their wait for a score but Moloney was quick to cancel that out and keep it at a five point game.

Westmeath stayed pushing as Conollly got their next score, but it would be their last until stoppage time, Clare meanwhile in another burst of scoring, found their feet to control the tie and ensure their passage to the next round.

Cliodhna Blake, Reidy and two Marrinan points, giving them the numerical advantage, Connolly would add her sixth point in added time, but it was not to be as Clare now look forward to a semi-final in two weeks.