Clare 1-13
Limerick 1-12
Declan Rooney reports from Cusack Park
CLARE DOMINATED THEIR neighbours Limerick to reach the Munster semi-final, but they were left sweating at the death after a goal from Josh Ryan closed the winning margin to a point.
Sean McSweeney could have levelled it for Limerick moments later, but his shot drifted wide and Clare held on to set up a last-four clash with Kerry in a fortnight’s time.
The key score of the first half arrived after 10 minutes when Jamie Malone picked out Eoin Cleary with a measured long kick-pass. Limerick’s Johnny McCarthy narrowly failed to cut it out, and Cleary rounded Donal O’Sullivan to make it 1-3 to 0-1.
With Clare the physically dominant side, Limerick worked the majority of their kick-outs short to the corner-backs. After some patient play up the field, they managed to settle themselves thanks to points form Danny Neville and Ger Collins.
Clare were dangerous on the counter-attack though and Keelan Sexton twice finished off flowing moves from deep, while Limerick’s slack passing also cost them scores.
David Ward could have drawn Limerick level in the 22nd minute but he pulled his shot wide of goal, and at the other end a brilliant save from Donal O’Sullivan denied Sexton after he crept in behind the Limerick cover.
But the Banner men were good value for their 1-8 to 0-6 half-time lead, and when Cleary added another score straight after the restart they opened up a six-point advantage.
But the following 15 minutes were poor as Clare kicked four wides while Limerick had three before Danny Neville found the next score.
That jolted both teams out of the malaise and Tubridy kicked a great score from the left to restore Clare’s cushion. At the other end, Sean O’De roamed up field to point for Limerick.
And while O’Carroll and Corbett kicked two in a row for Limerick and Josh Ryan hit a quick 1-1 when he moved into full-forward, Clare held on to take the precious win.
Scorers for Clare: E Cleary 1-4 (2f), D Tubridy 0-4 (2f), K Sexton 0-3 (1f), S Collins 0-1, P Lillis 0-1
Scorers for Limerick: J Ryan 1-1, S O’Carroll 0-3 (1’sl), G Collins 0-2 (1f), D Neville 0-2, J Naughton 0-1, D Tracey 0-1, I Corbett 0-1, S O’Dea 0-1.
Clare
1 Joe Hayes (Lissycasey)
6 Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s)
3 Kevin Harnett (Meelick)
4 Martin McMahon (Kilmurray Ibrickane)
5 Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
2 Dean Ryan (Eire Og)
7 John Hayes (Kilrush Shamrocks)
8 Gary Brennan (c) (Clondegad)
12 Shane Brennan (Clondegad)
9 Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
11 Sean Collins (Cratloe)
10 Jamie Malone (Corofin)
13 Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s)
14 David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
15 Keelan Sexton (Kilmurray Ibrickane)
Subs:
26 Ciaran Russell (Eire Og) for Malone (34-37 blood),
21 Liam Markham (Cratloe) for O’Connor (61)
25 Gearoid O’Brien (St Joseph’s) for Collins (66)
23 Seanie Malone (St Joseph’s) for Tubridy (71)
24 Darren Nagle (Liscannor) for Harnett (72)
Limerick
1 Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen)
2 Daniel Daly (Fr Caseys)
3 Johnny McCarthy (St Kieran’s)
4 Séan O’Dea (Kilteely Dromkeen)
5 Paul White (Rathkeale)
7 Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen)
12 Garrett Noonan (Dromcollogher Broadford)
8 Darragh Tracey (St Kieran’s)
9 David Ward (Fr Casey’s)
10 Peter Nash (Kildimo Pallaskenry)
11 James Naughton (St Senan’s)
6 Iain Corbett (c) (Newcastlewest)
13 Seamus O’Carroll (Castleknock)
14 Danny Neville (Ballysteen)
15 Ger Collins (Monaleem).
Subs:
21 Josh Ryan (Oola) for Ward (47)
22 Sean McSweeney (St Kieran’s) for Nash (52)
19 Jamie Lee (Newcastlewest) for Naughton (57)
17 Tony McCarthy (Kildimo Pallaskenry) for Daly (61)
20 Padraig Scanlon (Glin) for Collins (64),
18 Padraig Quinn (Monaleen) for O’Carroll (68)
Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).
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Much more enjoyable to watch the Turkey v. Ireland match. Lesser players but at least both teams got the ball down and played the game as it should be played. I’m a Bohs fan have to admit that Rovers probably would have deserved a draw.
@mar: Ya good game, thought the pitch was in exceptionally good condition, and Waterford have a couple of very cultured footballers like that French lad Hery and the Ghanaian chap.
Absolute joke of a second yellow for Gilchrist…. he fell over and ref gives him his marching orders. Rovers still looked like snatching a draw. Great game….. well played Waterford great for the league to have a newly promoted team up tbe table challenging (early days i know) better than the international game KOH
These are the nights we missed for all the years we were in First Division, a great crowd and brilliant result, Rovers looked very composed on the ball and probably deserved a draw but we will take it after heartbreak in Dundalk last week, Come On You Blues.
@Patrick Mc Cabe: Waterfod Albion ….3 lions on a shirt …..odious but hey its bread for the masses.
@Joe O’riordan: muppet
Hopefully Greg Bolger still isn’t whinging
@Aidan Holden: referee must have a head ache after the game
@Aidan Holden: Why do you think City offloaded him, apart from the fact he was’nt good enough to get in their first 11
Burke should have been playing against Turkey
Soccer has me puzzled this last while ! The fai coaches and mr doktor insists players take the ball from the back keep possession ,bring the mid field in to focus , set the forwards up for scoring ? Our international team hoof it long , don’t keep control of the ball , first touches don’t stick , and mid field are missing .
@Tricksy: Different levels. You could watch a reserves game and there would be some lovely touches and passes. But most international games are extremely competitive, tough and physical, just getting a cap is such an honour for footballers. You just don’t get the same time on the ball.
@Tricksy: I agree, also it’s only the senior international that hoofs the ball while from what I have seen the underage selections play proper football.
Need checks here . according to this article Duffus scored two goals after he had been sent off.