Holders Limerick book Munster senior hurling final spot despite defeat to Clare:
By Paul Shaughnessy Limerick Leader Sport
LIMERICK suffered a 3-20 to 0-24 defeat to Clare in round five of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
It was a contest Clare controlled for long periods and the Shannonsiders struggled to get back on level terms. Despite, Limerick’s defeat they will now face Cork in the Munster SHC final on Saturday June 7 at 6pm in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Tom Morrissey, Diarmaid Byrnes and Cathal O’Neill impressed in Limerick’s five point defeat hitting 0-14 between them. On 23 minutes, Limerick led 0-9 to 0-8 but after the hosts were never able to get back in front of their opponents.
Limerick have finished top of the Munster SHC round-robin, Cork have finished in second place and Tipperary have finished in third place.
John Kiely made eight changes from the Limerick senior hurling team that defeated Cork last weekend for this Sunday’s clash with Clare in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.
Shane Dowling replaced Nickie Quaid in goals, while Barry Murphy, Declan Hannon and Colin Coughlan all came into the side. Darragh O’Donovan partnered William O’Donoghue in midfield.
Cathal O’Neill, Seamus Flanagan and Peter Casey started for the first time in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.
Sean Finn, Kyle Hayes, Cian Lynch, Nickie Quaid and Aaron Gillane were not been included in the 26 man panel to face Clare. The Banner County were already knocked out of the Munster SHC before today’s clash with Limerick.
The Shannonsiders were trailing 1-13 to 0-10 at half time. Kiely’s charges had created two goal chances through Shane O’Brien and Seamus Flanagan in the first half. Both efforts were excellently defended by the Clare backs.
Clare had eight different scorers in the first half, while Limerick had five different scorers. Seamus Flanagan, Gearoid Hegarty and Peter Casey were a constant threat in front of goals in the opening period.
Mark Rodgers, Tony Kelly and Cathal Malone looked dangerous for Brian Lohan’s side scoring 1-8 between them in the opening 35 miuntes.
The home side made a blistering start to this encounter hitting three points inside the opening three minutes through Diarmaid Byrnes, Seamus Flanagan and Gearoid Hegarty. That was quickly cancelled by an impressive effort courtesy of Tony Kelly from a difficult angle.
Two frees from Mark Rodgers and a sideline cut from Peter Duggan pushed Clare 0-4 to 0-3 ahead. Peter Casey who made his first start since he broke his ankle in last year’s Munster SHC clash with Tipperary got his score of the day when he jinked past Rory Hayes to tap over a neat point.
Seamus Flanagan and David Reidy then swapped scores to level the sides for third time in the opening exchanges of the first half. The reigning All-Ireland champions then began to find more space in the Limerick defence when Cathal Malone and Tony Kelly got on the end of some excellent build-up play to shove their side 0-8 to 0-5 ahead.
Tom Morrissey, Gearoid Hegarty, Peter Casey and Diarmaid Byrnes responded to deadlock the sides 0-9 apiece. Clare goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy then drove his puckout long which Peter Duggan flicked the sliotar onto Mark Rodgers. Former UL Fitzgibbon cup winner Rodgers slotted the sliotar into the back of the net.
Duggan, Rodgers and Rory Hayes produced a strong finish to the first half for the visitors. Tom Morrissey was able to limit Clare’s purple patch on 32 minutes as Limerick trailed by six at the break.
After half-time, Tom Morrissey and Diarmaid Byrnes were central to the Limerick fightback scoring 0-4. Mark Rodgers continued his accuracy from the placed ball. Ryan Taylor then cut inside and smashed the sliotar into the roof of the net and Clare were now 2-18 to 0-14 clear after the third quarter mark.
Morrissey and Diarmaid Byrnes added frees to reduce the gap to nine points. Limerick’s accuracy began to cost them after they missed two scorebale frees. Peter Casey took on the Clare defence and played the sliotar across to Aidan O’Connor. O’Connor’s effort along the ground just went to the wrong side of the post.
The Munster champions reduced the deficit to five points in the final quarter thanks to scores from Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash, Adam English, and Cathal O’Neill. However, the contest took a decisive turn when Ryan Taylor burst through the heart of the Limerick defence and rifled the sliotar into the top corner, delivering a hammer blow to Limerick’s hopes.
Cathal O’Neill, Aidan O’Connor, and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh made late contributions on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Limerick from slipping to their first defeat in this year’s Munster SHC.
Limerick: Tom Morrissey (0-7, 0-5 frees); Diarmaid Byrnes (0-4, 0-2 frees); Cathal O’Neill 0-3; Seamus Flanagan, Gearoid Hegarty, Peter Casey 0-2 each; Adam English, Barry Nash, Aidan O’Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 0-1 each.
Clare: Mark Rodgers (1-8, 0-7 frees); Ryan Taylor 2-1, Tony Kelly 0-3; Peter Duggan (0-2 s/l), David Reidy, Cathal Malone 0-2 each; Rory Hayes, Shane Meehan 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh); Barry Murphy (Doon), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon (Adare), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora Manister), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Shane O’Brien (Kilamllock), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh).
SUBS: Barry Nash (South Liberties) for Mike Casey (32 minutes-34 minutes, temporary substitution), Adam English (Doon) for O’Donovan (44 minutes), Barry Nash (South Liberties) for Murphy (50 minutes) Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown) for O’Brien (52 minutes), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) for Byrnes (59 minutes), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen)for Flanagan (61 minutes), Patrick O’Donovan for Peter Casey (65 minutes)
Clare: Eamonn Foudy; Adam Hogan, Darragh Lohan, Rory Hayes; Cian Galvin, John Conlon, David McInerney; Jack O’Neill, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Shane O’Donnell; Ryan Taylor, Peter Duggan, David Reidy.
SUBS: Daithi Lohan for Darragh Lohan (13 minutes, injury), Ian Galvin for Reidy (60 minutes), Diarmuid Ryan for McInerney (64 minutes), Shane Meehan for O’Donnell (65 minutes), Aaron Shanagher for Duggan (67 minutes).
REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)