 Clare won the Munster championship for the first time since 1944, beating Cork in the final.Offaly defeated Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final and although Wexford beat Offaly by 1-12 to 1-7 to win the Leinster final, they were boosted by the experience.Offaly went on to beat Kilkenny for the second time in a championship play-off and then Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter final to qualify for the All-Ireland semi-final for the first time.