Limerick 0-36
Clare 1-23
SO MUCH FELT different for a championship Sunday and yet there were still familiar themes at play as the 2020 Munster hurling championship eased into life.
The Semple Stadium stands devoid of fans. The October start date for a summer tradition. A yellow sliotar flying around as winter closes in. All jarring aspects but this game also provided telling reminders.
Such as Limerick’s inter-county dominance as they advanced to a semi-final date with Tipperary next Sunday while also picking up the Division 1 league trophy they had first began the defence of last January.
And the afternoon also offered a reminder of the attacking wizardry of Tony Kelly, the Clare player putting on the outstanding individual show as he chalked up a remarkable total of 0-17. Eight of those arrived from play as the Ballyea man was in prolific form with some sublime attacking contributions.
Yet Limerick’s strength and class told as this game progressed. They hit 0-21 in the second half alone with Aaron Gillane, Gearoid Hegarty and Tom Morrissey all excelling in that department. Ryan Taylor cracked home a fine goal for Clare in the 47th minute as they hung in contention yet they were overpowered by the finish.
Half-time saw the teams locked together at 0-15 apiece yet the action had been illuminated by an individual rather than influenced by the collective.
Kelly was in mesmeric early form as he shot over a dozen points. Free-taking duties contributed seven of those but he was hauled down for one himself by Gearoid Hegarty, who was booked as a result, and snapped over five beautiful efforts from play. His eight in the first quarter edged Clare ahead 0-9 to 0-7 by the water break.
Starting out at right corner-forward Kelly wreaked havoc in his floating role while the sharpness of David Reidy’s movement was another issue that Limerick had difficulty in grappling with.
Still there was evidence of Limerick’s sluggishness dissipating as the game progressed. For instance they outscored Clare 0-8 to 0-2 between the 22nd and 34th minutes. Hegarty was particularly prominent, one delightful handpass providing Peter Casey with the simple task of pointing. That would have heartened John Kiely after a combination of misplaced handpasses and over-carrying in defence had coughed up frees and point-scoring opportunities early on.
Yet Kelly twice and a fine Diarmuid Ryan strike left the teams tied at the break.
Limerick thundered into the second half action. They rattled off six points in the first five minutes, a scoring blast that was indicative of their determined mood. The only juncture at which they wavered in the second half was when Clare countered briefly. Kelly atoned for a couple of misses after half-time by landing a brace and then Taylor gathered the break from a Cathal Malone delivery.
The Clooney-Quin mank was direct in his running and packed enough venom into his shot that it raised a green flag despite Nickie Quaid getting a touch to the ball.
That left Clare 0-21 to 1-17 adrift but it was as close as they would get. Limerick always looked capable of pushing further ahead, their accuracy was better and with 11 players getting in on the act, they had no shortage of point-takers.
Declan Hannon collected the league silverware afterwards and Tipperary loom large next Sunday. Clare head to the qualifiers in November. The 2020 season is starting to pick up pace at last.
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-12 (0-9f, 0-1 ’65), Gearoid Hegarty 0-5, Tom Morrissey 0-4, Kyle Hayes, Diarmaid Byrnes, Peter Casey 0-3 each, Graeme Mulcahy 0-2, Seamus Flanagan, Cian Lynch, Declan Hannon, Pat Ryan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 0-17 (0-8f), Ryan Taylor 1-1, Cathal Malone, Diarmuid Ryan 0-2 each.
Limerick
1. Nicky Quaid (Effin)
2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)
4. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare – captain)
7. Paddy O’Loughlin (Kilmallock)
8. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
9. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh)
10. Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s)
11. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
14. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
Subs
21. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon) for Mulcahy (blood) (31)
Mulcahy for Flanagan (33)
23. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon) for Tom Morrissey (58)
21. Flanagan for Casey (59)
26. Pat Ryan (Doon) for Mulcahy (64)
25. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) for O’Donoghue (64)
18. Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for Nash (72)
Clare
1. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
3. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
18. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
6. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber)
5. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
4. Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle)
8. David McInerney (Tulla – captain)
14. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
10. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
11. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
12. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
15. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
13. Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
Subs
20. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Fitzgerald (half-time)
7. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Reidy (55)
19. Domhnall McMahon (Michael Cusacks) for McInerney (64)
21. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for Taylor (70)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
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So let’s get us get this… Every Galway and Mayo fan are going down the one road to a match…
On top of that the traffic for the Irish Open will also be going on as Ennis is the where the Park and Ride is going from.
Seriously could Galway and Mayo just use there home and away agreement… Galway was next due and next time it would be Mayo… This is just embarrassing…
@Cowboy Paddy: should have been played on Hyde park roscommon
@@at: Hyde is not big enough to maximise the cash at the gate and lets be honest thats the first, last, and only consideration for any GAA fixture location.
@@at: happy with Limerick . Mayo have bad memories of that ground . Hopefully we can give them another nightmare
@Cowboy Paddy: Whats embarrassing is the notion that our infrastructure can’t handle two sporting events 50 miles apart and can’t handle 30,000 fans going down a motorway between our 3rd and 4th biggest cities.
@Finnster: because it’s only down the road for ye
@According to Di Marzio: The Motorway will be fine, I was on the M4/6 two years ago when Roscommon played Mayo, and Galway played Kerry in the quarter finals on the same day in Croker. It was very busy, but nothing compared to the 3 land M50 on a regular rush hour.
@Cowboy Paddy: however bad getting to limerick will be, nothing is as bad as getting in and out of Salthill for a game
@Cowboy Paddy: motorway all the way from tuam lad. Traffic would be 10 times worse if it was in castlebar or Salthill. Limerick is well used to these events with the likes of Munster and limerick gaa. It will be the finest
@According to Di Marzio: plus let’s be honest, nobody outside Roscommon wants to be going to Hyde Park. Traffic in the town would be ridiculous not to mention the vast amount of supporters who’d miss out due to its capacity restrictions
@According to Di Marzio: exactly
@Anthony: Hyde Park holds 25k (since the upgrade), just under 19k people attended Mayo v Armagh at the weekend, so capacity wise, there probably wouldn’t have been an issue.
@stephen keane: Galway borders Mayo , Kilmaine , Ballinrobe , Claremorris areas are all as close if not closer than parts of Connemara and Clifden. So it’s fair on both sides . One of us is going to have a long sad drive back home though after the game ; )
@Do the Bort man: don’t put a damper on the Mayo ego and how they’ll be bringing 35,000 fans to Limerick – all pure mad of course!
@Cowboy Paddy: it’s ok, there’s a motorway!! They built one sometime ago!!
@Anthony: motorway all the way from tuam alright. But what happens when everyone trys to use the same exits into limerick?
@Finnster: I hope so but the way we have been playing it’s hard to see it. We have played 2 mediocre teams and one average team so far and haven’t even remotely impressed. That type of form isn’t good.
@Cowboy Paddy: Has to be neutral venue for a game of this magnitude. Limerick is only down the road. You have a strange idea of what the word ‘embarrassing’ means.
@Finnster: they played us in the Gaelic Grounds last year and gave us a predictable walloping Finnster so there most recent memory is positive.
@mike Kennedy: true , forgot about that
@Tony Boyle: they are really going to have to step it up . The second half in the Connacht Final was dire
@Cryptoalcho: do a bit of research before you leave. There are lots of different exits you can take. Stadium is well served and more accessible than most I think.
“Capacity of 43k”. There was 44k at it yesterday. Funny that.
One game on RTÉ over the weekend. Sad !
@Nightowl: money hungry GAA – madness having the game in Limerick
Can we assume that Kerry vs Galway/Mayo will be on Sunday 14th July? (as the winner of Meath/Clare will be entitled to a 7 day turnaround in the Group’s other match).
It’s a complete joke that the GAA cannot tell us exactly what dates matches of this scale are being held until 6 days prior to the match itself.
I wonder what the attendance will be? Works carried out at Dr Hyde park has increased its capacity to 25,000 people. Surely that would have been enough, and closer for both the teams and supporters.
Ahh The sports grounds…
Tuam or Nowhere
According to this article both Mayo & Galway gaa agreed to the venue. Its their own county boards’ fault. There is also a big tiddly winks blitz on in Limerick, oh the mayhem.
@The don: Surprised Mayo agreed considering Limerick is closer to Galway
Really daft that two Connacht counties has to play a championship match in Munster. Both could have come together and agreed on a home venue like the agreement in place for Connnacht championship games. Hyde park was more than capable of hosting the expected crowd of 18 to 20k matter of fact there was 24k at the Connacht final in 2015 but GAA politics tells us other wise now.
Should be played in Dr Hyde Park. 8000 capacity wasnt an issue last year in Newbridge. Its down to greed. 7pm throw in as well. Sky dictates the starting times.
What a joke ,.
Surely there wont be anything more than 20k-25k max at Mayo-Galway game? Hyde Park would have been sufficient.
But sure the Gaelic Grounds and the throw-in time gives Mayo fans another reason to whinge, so everyone happy all round then.