Little separated the teams in the opening stages, and they were level 0-3 apiece after 10 minutes.

However, O’Farrell’s opening goal arrived two minutes later, after Patrick Donnellan’s goal effort for Clare was blocked at the opposite end by Patrick Collins.

This score handed Cork a lead they wouldn’t relinquish and the Rebels moved 1-9 to 0-5 ahead after 23 minutes.

Clare responded with the next point, but Davy Fitzgerald’s charges were wasteful in front of the posts, and amassed eight wides in the opening 30 minutes, as Cork built to a 1-12 to 0-6 lead.

The Rebels extended the gap to 12 points at the break, as O’Farrell ended the half with his second goal.

Bobby Duggan (0-6) kept Clare in touch, with the hosts cutting the gap to 10 points, with the opening two scores inside three minutes of the restart, but Cork always held that extra edge.

The Banner County cut the gap to six points entering the final quarter, but Dayne Lee, O’Farrell and Cian McCarthy were among those on target for the hosts late on, on the way to a nine-point win.

Limerick ended hopes of an-all Cork decider, after the Shannonsiders claimed a hard-earned 0-22 to 1-17 win over UCC at Killmallock.

Limerick led 0-10 to 0-7 at half-time, with both sides enjoying their share of the lead in the opening quarter, and were tied for the 0-6 apiece after 20 minutes, but Limerick cut loose before the interval.

The sides were level on 10 occasions in the opening 50 minutes, and as the game entered the final quarter, the teams were tied at 0-15 apiece.

UCC took a 1-16 to 0-18 lead in the 65th minute, but Limerick outscored the students by four points to one late on to secure a final berth.