LIMERICK V CLARE Volume III.
The Munster six-in-a-row chasers versus the challengers who are seeking a first provincial crown since 1998. The margins between these teams have been slim throughout this trilogy. They played out two draws in the 2022 championship, including the Munster final which ended in a win for Limerick after extra-time.
It was a similar scenario last year as Clare prevailed by one point in the round-robin clash before Limerick overturned the Banner in the final by the same minimal difference. Their meeting in this year’s round-robin series produced a three-point win for Limerick after an impressive heave in the final quarter.
Crucially however, the Munster final scoreline reads 2-0 in favour of Limerick.
With so little separating the sides, the use of the bench becomes a critical factor for their provincial decider meeting. Let’s review the substitutions from their previous meetings to discover which team has been enjoyed the bigger gains from their reinforcements, and which players are likely to play that role again on Sunday.
2022
Munster Round-Robin: Clare 0-24 Limerick 1-21
Munster Final: Clare 0-29 Limerick 1-29 (AET)
Clare subs (in both games): Shane Meehan (0-2), David Reidy, Aron Shanagher, Robin Mounsey, Cian Nolan, Mark Rodgers (0-2 1f), Patrick Crotty
Total: 0-4 1f
Limerick subs (in both games): Graeme Mulcahy, Darragh O’Donovan (0-1), Oisín O’Reilly (0-1), Richie English, David Reidy (0-1), Conor Boylan (0-1).
Total: 0-4
The 2022 season was a time when Limerick and Clare were almost inseparable. Their round-robin fixture was a thrilling encounter where Tony Kelly produced a masterclass display of 16 points. Limerick finished the game with 14 players after Gearóid Hegarty was dismissed with two yellow cards.
Of the subs that were deployed in that game, Darragh O’Donovan made the biggest contribution for Limerick while Shane Meehan scored a vital point in what was his championship debut for Brian Lohan’s team. O’Donovan, of course, is a regular starter for Limerick, but was a late omission on this occasion. He scored a point just after the hour mark while Meehan’s score was an equaliser in the 67th minute.
Meehan was on target again in the Munster final while O’Donovan returned to the starting line-up. Mark Rodgers, who was also making his breakthrough with Clare in 2022, swung over two points upon his introduction at the start of extra-time. One of those scores was from a free, a job which Rodgers has inherited on a full-time basis since then.
The Clare replacements left their mark on proceedings but Limerick’s bench put the final touches on a charge to victory. David Reidy and Conor Boylan both chipped in with vital points in extra-time as Limerick completed a Munster four-in-a-row.
2023
Munster Round-Robin: Limerick 2-20 Clare 1-24
Munster Final: Clare 1-22 Limerick 1-23
Clare subs (in both games): Aron Shanagher (0-3), Shane Meehan, Paul Flanagan, Séadna Morey, Ian Galvin (0-2)
Total: 0-5
Limerick subs (in both games): Mike Casey, Gearóid Hegarty, David Reidy, Graeme Mulcahy, Conor Boylan, Peter Casey, Colin Coughlan, Richie English, Cathal O’Neill (0-2), Adam English (0-1)
Total: 0-3
Clare’s round-robin win over Limerick last year was more than just a reversal of the 2022 Munster final result. It also marked the end of Limerick’s run of 17 unbeaten games in the championship. The teams were level five times in the second half of this meeting which further illustrates the tight lines that separates these teams. Clare outscored Limerick by 1-12 to 1-10 in that second period, with Aron Shanagher emerging as the only sub to split the posts.
Replacing Peter Duggan with only 10 minutes of normal time remaining, he scored two points to push Clare four in front on the home straight. Séamus Flanagan’s late goal offered Limerick some hope of snatching a result but Clare held on for a narrow win.
Shanagher is a solid option for Clare when finishers are required. He first delivered in that capacity with a goal shortly after his extra-time arrival in the 2018 All-Ireland semi-final against Galway where Clare rallied from nine points down to force a replay.
His service has been consistently solid ever since. He was rolled on after 57 minutes in the 2023 Munster final where he scored a point while Ian Galvin posted two points off the bench.
But again, it was Limerick’s selection of reinforcements who helped propel the Shannonsiders to the winner’s circle. Cathal O’Neill helped himself to two points after his 58th minute introduction, the second of which was the last point of the game to secure the title.
Adam English, who scored a point from the bench, replaced O’Donovan as a blood sub in the 62nd minute before subbing in for Séamus Flanagan shortly after.
2024
Munster Round-Robin: Clare 1-18 Limerick 3-15
Clare subs: Séadna Morey (0-1), Tony Kelly (0-2, 1f), Paul Flanagan, Shane Meehan, Aron Shanagher
Total: 0-3 1f
Limerick subs: Seán Finn, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (1-1), Conor Boylan, Adam English, Aidan O’Connor.
Total: 1-1
Clare should have notched their second win of this odyssey with Limerick when they met two months ago in Ennis. Leading by nine points in the final quarter, they were dominating the game and on course to open their Munster championship with a huge win. But they conceded three goals and eventually lost by three.
Substitute Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, was among the goalscorers who contributed to that Limerick recovery and finished with 1-1 in total after taking to the field on 45 minutes. Sean Finn, who had torn his ACL against the same opposition last year, made his championship return in the early minutes when he came on for Mike Casey. The Bruff defender featured again against Tipperary but has since been struck down with a hamstring problem against Cork which puts his availability for Sunday into question. O’Donovan has been sidelined with a calf injury but could be an ace card for John Kiely to pull on Sunday.
Tony Kelly has also been afflicted by injury this year. Ankle bother derailed his league campaign has reduced him to substitute appearances in the championship. He played the last 15 minutes against Limerick, hitting 0-2 (1f) in that stretch. Manager Brian Lohan has indicated that Kelly is “good to start” but added that match fitness is “an issue” for him.
Whether or not he will be promoted to the starting 15 is a big question for Clare.
Shanagher is likely to be summoned from the Clare dugout as the 2024 Munster final progresses, as is Shane Meehan. Paul Flanagan and Séadna Morey could make an appearance too. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh is almost certain to be one of Limerick’s substitute calls along with Adam English and Graeme Mulcahy who are routine choices for fresh legs.
