The Galway champions will face O’Loughlin Gaels in the St. Patrick's Day decider after Murphy's last-gasp strike denied De La Salle a second final appearance in three years.

The excellent John Mullane, who led the scoring with 0-11, and substitute Lee Hayes both pointed to put the Waterford and Munster champions on course for next month's final.

But Murphy found the net after taking a pass from Alan Kerins to keep his side's All-Ireland dreams alive.

Excellent scores from brothers Mark and Alan Kerins and David and Eoin Forde had given Clarinbridge a 0-11 to 0-08 lead at half-time in normal time.

Playing conditions were ideal in Thurles and the sides produced an absorbing contest that could have gone either way.

Mark Kerins made an inspired return to action following time out with a virus. But the men from the west fell 0-04 to 0-04 behind early on, with minor player Jake Dillon claiming two early points and Mullane and Paudie Nevin also on target.

De La Salle had a man-of-the-match performance from centre-back Kevin Moran and he was prominent throughout. David Forde and the Kerins brothers got Clarinbridge back in touch, and six points in an eight-minute spell saw them go 0-06 to 0-04 in front by the 19th minute.

Alan Kerins started the scoring burst, and Stephen Forde, Mark Kerins and Shane Burke quickly followed. Mark Kerins' 16th minute point from a 90-metre free edged his side ahead for the first time.

Mullane got De La Salle back on terms and despite further scores from Dean Twomey and Moran, Clarinbridge dominated the closing stages of the half to move three points clear. Mark Kerins and David Forde did the late damage.

By the midpoint of the second period, De La Salle had edged ahead. Mullane was providing the inspiration as ever, with Brian Phelan and John Keane also chipping in with scores.

The Kerins brothers tied up the game at 0-16 apiece with nine minutes of normal time remaining. The high octane hurling continued as the introduction of Eoghan Madigan added to De La Salle's options in attack.

Madigan picked off a fine point from distance to put the Waterford men on course for the final at 0-20 to 0-17. Swiftly, Clarinbridge swung things back in their favour. Mark Kerins smashed the ball to the net following a foul on Eoin Forde.

Alan Kerins added a point from the puckout for a 1-18 to 0-20 advantage. De La Salle failed to panic and set up an opportunity right at the death for Phelan. The midfielder stood up to slot over a long range free, just as he did in the All-Ireland semi-final two years ago against Cushendall, to force extra-time.

The floodlights were switched on for extra-time. Neither side allowed their opponents much leeway despite tiring legs. Mullane edged his side ahead on the resumption, but his ninth point of the afternoon was quickly cancelled out by Alan Kerins.

Clarinbridge gained momentum then and following a foul on Barry Daly after his run through on goal, Mark Kerins smashed home his second goal of the game.

De La Salle offered an immediate response with Madigan claiming his side's lone goal. He scored on the rebound after Mullane was initially denied by goalkeeper Liam Donoghue in the 66th minute.

Tied at 1-22 to 2-19, De La Salle upped their game with points from Madigan and Mullane giving them a two-point lead. Paul Coen pegged a point back for Clarinbridge, but De La Salle maintained their lead for the break.

Into the second period of extra-time, Phelan slotted over a 65-metre free to give De La Salle a two-point lead, but scores from Eoin Forde and Coen tied the contest with four minutes remaining.

Clarinbridge heaped pressure on the De La Salle defence late on, but with Mullane and substitute Lee Hayes firing over quick-fire points, it looked like the Waterford side had the game within their grasp.

De La Salle defended rigidly at the back, with Mullane dropping back to help out his side late on.

But, in the closing 30 seconds, they gave way as Murphy pounced on a pass from Alan Kerins to slot the ball past Stephen Brenner and secure a March 17 showdown for Clarinbridge.

Scorers - Clarinbridge: M Kerins 2-05, A Kerins 0-06, E Forde 0-05, E Murphy 1-00, P Coen 0-02, D Forde, B Daly, S Burke, S Forde 0-01 each

De La Salle: J Mullane 0-11, E Madigan 1-03, J Dillon, B Phelan 0-03 each, D Twomey, J Keane 0-02 each, K Moran, P Nevin, L Hayes 0-01 each