Limerick 1-28
Clare 1-15
Declan Rooney reports from the Gaelic Grounds
AARON GILLANE TORE Clare asunder with a brilliant 14-point haul as Limerick qualified to face either Waterford or Cork in the Munster U-21 final.
Gillane struck eight points before the break and another six in the second-half as the home side stepped up their quest for an eighth Munster title at the Gaelic Grounds.
Peter Casey fired a sixth minute goal for Limerick, which put his side 1-5 to 0-2 ahead, and although Billy Connors replied with a great finish for clare, Gillane fired four points in as many minutes to help Limerick to a nine-point interval lead.
Clare had corner back Conor O’Halloran sent off in the last minute for a second yellow when he pulled down Barry Nash but Clare were well beaten at that stage.
Limerick were well on their way to a second Munster U-21 final appearance in three years when they led by 1-15 to 1-5 after a blistering opening half.
Clare supporters hoping for a boost after the senior final loss knew they were in trouble when they trailed by 1-7 to 0-2 after just ten minutes.
Peter Casey got in for the goal after six minutes as Limerick laid down an early marker and never let their grip go.
Billy Connor gave Clare hope with a goal but Limerick response was superb and Aaron Gillane reeled off four points in a row.
They would have been even further ahead by the break but Casey, Gillane and captain Tom Morrissey all missed good goal chances in the opening half.
Clare started the second-half brightly and hit five of the first six points to cut Limerick’s lead to five points, but with Colin Ryan inspiration at midfield – he hit three great points in the second period – Limerick settled themselves and ran out easy winners.
Scorers for Limerick: A Gillane 0-14 (5f, 1’65), C Ryan 0-3, P Casey 1-0, T Morriseey 0-2, B Nash 0-2, R Hanley 0-2, T Grimes 0-1, B Murphy 0-1, R Lynch 0-1 (1f), C Lynch 0-1, P Ahern 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: I Galvin 0-5 (4f), B Connors 1-0, C Corbett 0-2, D Fitzgerald 0-2, M O’Malley 0-1, A Shanagher 0-1, M O’Shea 0-1, R Hayes 0-1, B Cahill 0-1, P O’Loughlin 0-1
Limerick
1 Eoghan McNamara (Doon)
2 Seán Finn (Bruff)
3 Darragh Fanning (Pallasgreen)
4 Dan Joy (Kilmallock)
5 Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh)
6 Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)
7 Thomas Grimes (Na Piarsaigh)
8 Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen)
9 Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock)
10 Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
11 Barry Murphy (Doon)
12 Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
13 Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
14 Tom Morrissey (Ahane (Captain)
15 Barry Nash (South Liberties)
Subs
19 Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for Murphy (40 mins),
20 Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen) for Grimes (42)
23 Conor McSweeney (South Liberties) for Finn (51)
18 Paudie Ahern (Killeedy) for Morrissey (53)
24 Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock) for Casey (56)
Clare
1 Killian Nugent (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
4 Conor O’Halloran (Éire Óg)
3 Dara Walsh (Éire Óg)
2 Ciaran Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
5 Con Smyth (Feakle)
10 Ben O’Gorman (Wolfe Tones Na Sionna)
7 Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones Na Sionna)
8 Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
9 Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley)
6 David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
13 Colin Corbett (Tulla)
12 Brian Cahill (Kilmaley)
11 Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
14 Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones Na Sionna)
15 Billy Connors (Cratloe)
Subs:
17 Michael Moloney (Éire Óg) for Smyth (18 mins)
18 Michael O’Shea (Smith O’Briens) for Corbett (40)
19 Padraig O’Loughlin (Clonlara) for Hayes (42)
20 Cathal Noonan (Killanena) for Cahill (56)
21 Jack Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for B O’Gorman (59)
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).
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Shows serious squad depth when you can bring on a player of the caliber of La Touche Cosgrave
@Hugh: bench is fierce strong…boylan some man to catch a ball
Limerick and Kilkenny look to be very strong it’s a brilliant championship.
@Gerry W: Glad to hear your enjoying the championship Gerry. And it’s great to hear your back playing sport again after a long term injury.
@Flembomb: still in retirement yourself flembomb? Never fully recovered from that hamstring injury…
@Gerry W: c
@Gerry W: cork could have something to say about that. But that Limerick side are very good. Kilkenny are growing with every game. 3 really good teams. Did I hear it’s Kilkenny vs Antrim in the Semi and Munster winners vs Galway?
@Jason Pierce: ya thats it alright…no disrespect to antrim but thats Kilkenny in the final anyway…Limerick still have to beat cork/waterford and galway, its not a given yet
Limerick have six senior forwards Peter casey, Barry Nash, Cian Lynch, Kyle Hayse, Tom Morrissey, and Aron Gillane throw in Ronan Lynch and Sean Finn and you would expect them to land the All Ireland again.
I couldnt say we played well, despite the 13 point winning margin. We certainly did had some very good patches of hurling. That we left Clare get back to within five points despite being totally dominant in first half, is somewhat annoying/concerning. The game as a contest should have been finished at half time, we wont get away with missing all those goal chances against Cork/Waterford.
Limerick played in third gear throughout. It was like a challenge match for large parts, Clare were just not at the races, particularly around the middle of the park and on the 40.
Limerick have much improving to do if they are to stand up to the challenge of either Cork or Waterford in the final. Either of those sides will represent a step-up in quality from Tipp and Clare.
Limerick prob fav’s to repeat the feat of U21 Munster and All-Ireland again,but that Cork/Waterford and potentially Galway team have a seriously talented panel too, way too close to call tbh, some great games to be decided over the coming weeks
@Now or Never: a senior all Ireland win for Limerick in the next few years given the strength of the u21s …oh wait
@John Ryan: seen it all before John. Hard to be hopeful.