A rousing 18 minutes of hurling during the first-half – in which Wolfe Tones outscored their opponents by 1-9 to 0-1 – powered the Clare outfit to Munster intermediate hurling glory this afternoon.

Led by Aaron Shanagher, Ben O’Gorman and Barry Loughnane, Wolfe Tones held the initiative from the 11th minute onwards and though they were made to sweat at the finish as Trevor Horgan raised two green flags for Newcestown, the second arriving in the second minute of stoppages, they were most deserving victors.

Wolfe Tones returned to the dressing-room at half-time in a commanding position, 1-11 to 0-8 they led.

Their advantage was greatest on 24 minutes, points from Gary O’Connell and an Aaron Shanagher ’65 moving the Clare champions nine clear. Those white flags followed a Gary O’Connell goal on 21 minutes, the centre-forward flicking to the net after a superb Aaron Shanagher run split open the Newcestown defence.

Indeed, were it not for four Eoin Kelly frees approaching the break to close the gap, Newcestown would have been left chasing a lost cause in the second-half.

And while the West Cork side never threw in the towel, Trevor Horgan’s two goals arrived too late on to swing the verdict.

Scorers for Wolfe Tones: A Shanagher (0-9, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ’65); G O’Connell (1-1); B O’Gorman (0-3, 0-1 sc); J Cunningham, K McCafferty, D O’Connell, R Hayes, J Guilfoyle (0-1 each).

Scorers for Newcestown: T Horgan (2-0); E Kelly (0-9, 0-9 frees); M McSweeney, C Keane, T Twomey, L Meade (0-1 each).

Wolfe Tones: P Hogan; D McCarthy, D O’Rourke, J Roughan; B Loughnane, B McPhillips, B O’Connell; B O’Gorman, J Guilfoyle; K McCafferty, G O’Connell, R Hayes;

A Shanagher, A Cunningham, D O’Connell.

Subs: J Cunningham for Hayes (46), D Devanney for McCafferty (56), S Costelloe for G O’Connell (58).

Newcestown: D Heffernan; M McSweeney, J Crowley, G Murphy; O Keane, J Desmond, F Keane; T Twomey, J Meade; C Twomey, C Keane, T Horgan; E Kelly, L Meade, M Bradfield.

Subs: S O’Donovan for Bradfield (40 mins), S Ryan for C Twomey (45), C Dineen for O Keane (56)

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).