Clare 3-17
Limerick 2-16
Fintan O’Toole reports from Semple Stadium, Thurles
MUNSTER HAS PROVEN a barren hunting ground for the Clare hurlers in recent times but today they managed to reverse the trend of disappointments in Semple Stadium.
Their livewire attacking duo of Conor McGrath and Shane O’Donnell deserved much of the credit, weighing in with a combined total of 3-5 from play.
That in essence was the difference in this Munster semi-final as Clare’s inside forwards providing a greater cutting edge than their Limerick opponents and that ensured the Banner can look forward next month to a first provincial hurling decider since 2008.
Clare bossed the opening period. O’Donnell had raised two green flags inside 13 minutes, showing glimpses of the damage his electric attacking style can cause. McGrath looked in a mood to cause trouble as well and between them, they had struck 2-4 by half-time.
Limerick will have regrets over both goals in not dealing adequately with deliveries to their goalmouth and O’Donnell seized on the break on each occasion to find the net.
Limerick only made inroads for a short time frame midway during the half, but they mined that for all it was worth. Between the 20th and 25th minutes, Limerick struck 1-5 without reply to alter the complexion of a game that was drifting beyond them.
The goal was supplied by debutant David Dempsey, reacting best to whip a rebound to the net after Cian Lynch’s low shot was blocked by Andrew Fahy. Kudos to Shane Dowling for his vision at the start of the move as his handpass split the defence to release Lynch.
They cut that deficit to level but Paul Browne’s 25th minute point was their last score of the first half as Clare produced another hot scoring streak.
They rattled off five points before the interval – Conor Cleary, O’Donnell, David Reidy, John Conlon and McGrath all contributing – to surge in front 2-10 to 1-8.
Limerick pushed hard early in the second half as they whittled Clare’s advantage away to three points on a couple of occasions. However their good work was undone when Clare got in for their third goal in the 50th minute, the alert McGrath rushing in to flick home a long clearance by Cleary.
After that Clare never looked in jeopardy yet they struggled to completely close the door on Limerick.
After Aaron Cunningham was pulled down in the 66th minute, Tony Kelly had the chance to stretch their lead but he unleashed a fierce drive that saw the ball fly low and wide of the post.
Teenager Kyle Hayes got in after that at the other end for a well-taken goal on his Limerick senior championship debut yet Clare had laid the foundations for this victory early on.
Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney’s senior summer reign got off to a positive start.
Scorers for Clare: Shane O’Donnell 2-2, Conor McGrath 1-3, David Reidy 0-5 (0-5f), John Conlon 0-2, Conor Cleary, Ian Galvin, Jason McCarthy, Colm Galvin 0-1 each.
Scorers for Limerick: Shane Dowling 0-7 (0-7f), David Dempsey, Kyle Hayes 1-1 each, Paul Browne (0-1 sideline), Cian Lynch 0-2 each, Peter Casey, Pat Ryan, Barry Nash 0-1 each.
Clare
1. Andrew Fahy (Whitegate)
2. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
3. David McInerney (Tulla)
4. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber – captain)
5. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6. Conor Cleary (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
7. Gearóid O’Connell (Ballyea)
8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
10. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
11. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
12. John Conlon (Clonlara)
13. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
14. Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
15. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
Subs
20. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for O’Connell (53)
22. Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Collins (59)
23. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for Shanagher (63)
21. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge) for McGrath (65)
25. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe) for Kelly (69)
Limerick
1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)
2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
5. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare)
7. Seamus Hickey (Murroe/Boher)
8. Paul Browne (Bruff)
9. James Ryan (Garryspillane – captain)
10. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
11. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh)
12. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
13. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
15. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
Subs
18. Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock) for Hannon (blood) (24)
Hannon for O’Mahony (26)
24. Barry Nash (South Liberties) for Mulcahy (half-time)
17. Richie English (Doon) for Mike Casey (40)
20. Tom Morrissey (Ahane) for Peter Casey (53)
21. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell) for Dowling (57)
22. Pat Ryan (Doon) for Ryan (57)
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)
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What a waste of time. But im sure louth will have enjoyed the big day out in croke park eh
@Brian Dunne: The three provincial finals so far have been awful, hopefully Ulster is a bit better.
@Bert Carolan: Time to scrap them and run all-Ireland competitions a few weeks after the league end.
@Brian Dunne: ah now Brain nod say there’s a few of your i20’s lads would love a crack at Dublin for a Leinster title
@mainmsam: *id say
Gaelic football is a game that’s gone down the drain,between calling for a ‘mark’,handpassing,scoring by hand it’s just terrible to watch.not to take anything away from Dublin winning today,best of luck to them. I seen a few minutes of the game today and switched it off,I haven’t watched a game of Gaelic in years and won’t be watching anytime soon either.as a youngster watching on in the 80’s and 90’s it was a completely different game.can anything be done to save the game ?
@Jb Walshe: Yawn. Already been some brilliant games this year. That game was very 80s/90s esque as well. Stick to the hurling good man
@Jb Walshe: As you don’t watch gaelic football you probably didn’t watch the Ulster final today
Could have put those games on gaa go. See if anyone would watch them outside the 6 counties that played in those finals
What a competition
Utterly pointless game
Bit of silverware is a bit of silverware love to see it
Do people actually watch this?
@Donie Nagle: yes, probably a dub thing
@Donie Nagle: Yes
Them bloody Dubs are at it again…
Sam is homesick
Split Dublin in two
@KY22: and have an all Dublin Leinster final??
Louth goalkeeper was quoted by RTE commentator that he sees himself as outfield player first and a goalkeeper second well by golly that showed today. If your tge actual goalkeeper and perform like that you deserve everything you get. Maybe stick to been a keeper and you might actually be able to save something.
Levels.
Dublin will most likely reach an All Ireland quarter final and only have played one ( Roscommon) Division One team. I can see Dessie Farrell’s point, especially if Dublin come up against a more hardened team who have played competitive games.
I believe in a few years we will have the Provincial Championships in February before the League starts. They will become what the O’Byrne and McKenna Cups are now.
Also, the lopsided nature of Provincial Championships doesn’t allow the new format for the All Ireland series to be a true reflection of the top sixteen teams in the country.
@Gerry Thompson: no, they are too important to too many counties. Try telling Sligo, Clare, Louth or Armagh that they should be downgraded. Try telling Limerick from last year, tipp from a couple of years ago, Cavan etc. Even Roscommon, Meath, Derry, Monaghan, it’s their All Ireland ATM. It’s worth winning and more important than league or Tailteann Cup. Dublin and Kerry dominating their province is a necessary evil unfortunately but when someone does beat them in the Leinster final it will be huge for that county.
Time to put the Leinster and Munster football championships out to pasture. There hasn’t been a Connacht Hurling Championship since the mid 90s for the same reason. Dublin & Kerry pummelling all round them is a futile exercise.
@Colm: Tipp won Munster in 2020…..