Limerick minor hurlers advance to All-Ireland semi-final with Clare victory:

By Joel Slattery Limerick Leader Sports

The win sets up an All-Ireland semi-final date with Galway on the weekend of June 13/14

Limerick have progressed to the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship semi-final after a 2-16 to 0-13 win over Clare at FBD Semple Stadium.

Second half goals from Shane Waters and Rian Horgan were the key scores as Diarmuid Mullins’ side bounced back from their Munster final defeat at the same venue.

The win sets up an All-Ireland semi-final date with Galway on the weekend of June 13/14.

Na Piarasigh’s Waters top-scored with 1-9 as his side secured a second win over the Banner in this year’s championship.

It was however Clare who were quicker out of the blocks with a Ben Talty free and good effort from Max Sheehan giving them the early advantage.

When they got their footing, Limerick looked impressive. They hit six points in a row and took control of this quarter-final.

Waters got four of these (three frees) with Eamon O’Sullivan also on the board in the early exchanges.

Eoin Hennessy delivered from long range after quick thinking from goalkeeper Sam Collins.

Darragh Moran and Oran Duignan got points back for Clare who weathered the Limerick storm.

Zach Bennis fired over a good point from a tight angle before Colin Burke – a late addition to the side in place of the injured Ryan Foley – extended Limerick’s lead.

Bennis’ second gave the Shannonsiders a 0-10 to 0-6 lead approaching half-time.

Goalkeeper Collins was called on late in the half, making a stunning stop. James O’Donnell passed to Max Sheehan whose goal-bound effort was stopped by the flying Crecora-Manister netminder.

A Talty free – his third – was the last score of the half reducing the Banner’s deficit to four at the change of ends.

Diarmuid Crowe opened the second half before Talty struck four frees in a row in as many minutes to reduce the gap to just one. Another Talty placed ball levelled the game.

Limerick’s 15-minute scoreless run was ended with a Waters free in a stop-start second half.

Chances were few and far between as the Treaty’s accuracy was left wanting at times too. Another Waters free doubled Limerick’s lead with just over 10 minutes to play.

Then the big moment of the game. Gavin O’Brien – not long on the field – was pulled back by Cian Maxted who received a black card.

There was an element of controversy as the whistle went after O’Brien had taken his shot, which ended up in the back of the net.

Possible fallout was averted as Waters stepped up and buried the penalty.

The win was secured when Rian Horgan buried a goal after Waters played the ball in as Limerick stretched the lead to eight with less than two minutes to play.

SCORERS:
Limerick: Shane Waters 1-9 (1-0 pen, 7f, 1 ‘65); Rian Horgan 1-0; Zach Bennis 0-2; Eamon O’Sullivan, Eoin Hennessy, Colin Burke, Diarmuid Crowe and Paul Collins 0-1 each.

Clare: Ben Talty 0-8 (8f); Max Sheehan, Darragh Moran, Oran Duignan, Cian Mullins and James O’Donnell 0-1 each.

TEAMS
LIMERICK: Sam Collins (Crecora-Manister); Rowan Collins (Adare), William Ryan (Murroe-Boher), Sam Mitchell (Knockainey); John O’Riordan (Bruff), Conor Ryan (Monaleen), Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell); Xavier Nelligan (Kilmallock), Jack Roche (Blackrock); Diarmuid Crowe (Doon), Colin Burke (Dromcollogher-Broadford), Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh); Eamon O’Sullivan (Adare), Zach Bennis (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Rian Horgan (Murroe-Boher).

Subs: Donagh Horgan (Murroe-Boher) for Rowan Collins (35 mins); Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Colin Burke (46 mins); Daire Long (Pallasgreen) for Zach Bennis (59 mins); Paul Collins (Tournafulla) for Jack Roche (59 mins); Callum Butler (Patrickswell) for John O’Riordan (60 mins).

CLARE: Patrick Murphy; Odhran Perill, Cian Maxted, Marcas Fitzpartrick; Isaac Hassett, Colm Daly, Sean Connellan; Oran Duignan, Darragh Moran; Gearoid Madden, Ben Talty, Cian Mullins; James O’Donnell, Tom O’Dea, Max Sheehan.

Subs: Fionn Daffy for Tom O’Dea (41 mins); Stephen Clancy for Darragh Moran (47 mins); Donncha McKenna for Gearoid Madden (51 mins); Darragh Clancy for Cian Maxted (54 mins, black card); Conor Coffey for Max Sheehan (59 mins).

REFEREE: Adam Kinahan (Offaly).