Limerick 2-11
Clare 1-8
Eoin Brennan reports from Gaelic Grounds
IT HAD TO take two late goals from Limerick substitutes Josh Ryan and Cian Magnier Flynn to finally brush off the stubborn challenge of neighbours Clare in the Gaelic Grounds this evening and return to a seventh consecutive Munster minor hurling semi-final.
With the sides level at the break in front of an attendance of 2,240, the 2013-14 Munster champions Limerick were expected to take full advantage of a strong breeze that blew towards the city but in a low-scoring derby battle, they found their opponents difficult to shake.
The fresh legs of Abbey CBS’ All-Ireland winner Ryan and Magnier Flynn finally paid dividends however as they struck in the 52nd and 62nd minutes respectively to join Cork in the last four.
All that after Clare couldn’t have asked for a better start when Ian Murray pounced on some sloppy defending to pull to the net after only 90 seconds of the throw-in.
However, they failed to build on that boost as it was the home side who responded better with six of the next seven points by the turn of the second quarter, thanks to five different scorers to take a 0-6 to 1-1 advantage.
Clare would eventually break a 21 minute drought to finish the half on the front-foot however as points from freetaker Sean O’Loughlin (2) and the impressive Conor Tierney ensured that the Banner would remain on level terms at 1-4 to 0-7 by half-time.
With Kilmaley duo O’Loughlin and lively replacement Aidan Kennedy cancelled out two eye-catching points from Limerick’s Darragh Carroll (sideline) and centre-back Ciaran O’Connor, the sides were still locked together as the tie entered the final quarter.
However, a more clinical Limerick would eventually click into gear in the final ten minutes with two decisive sucker-punch goals that clinched a place in the last four and forced Clare into the backdoor route, with a final chance to join their neighbours against the losers of Tipperary and Waterford at the end of the month.
Scorers for Limerick: Mark O’Dwyer 0-3 (0-3f); Josh Ryan, Cian Magnier Flynn 1-0 each; Conor Boylan, Kyle Hayes 0-2 each; Cal McCarthy, Brian Ryan, Darragh Carroll (1 s/l), Ciaran O’Connor 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Sean O’Loughlin 0-5 (0-5f); Ian Murray 1-0; Aidan Kennedy 0-2; Conor Tierney 0-1.
Limerick
1. Mark O’Kelly (Croom)
2. Brian Nash (South Liberties)
3. William O’Meara (Askeaton)
4. Brian Timmons (Murroe/Boher)
5. Josh Adams (Ballybrown)
6. Ciaran O’Connor (Kilmallock)
7. Finn Hourigan (Murroe/Boher)
8. Conor Nicholas (Monaleen)
9. Cal McCarthy (Kilmallock)
10. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
11. Darragh Carroll (Newport)
12. Brian Egan (South Liberties)
13. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Anthony Barrett (Kilmallock)
15. Mark O’Dwyer (Monaleen)
Subs
19. Cian Magnier Flynn (Killeedy) for Barrett (HT)
23. Josh Ryan (Doon) for O’Dwyer (44)
24. David Woulfe (Kilmallock) for McCarthy (57)
17. Conor Flahive (Mungret) for Timmons (57)
20. Dan Minihan (Ahane) for O’Connor (62)
Clare
1. Killian Nugent (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
2. Cian McInerney (Inagh-Kilnamona)
3. Damien O’Loughlin (Corofin)
4. Keith White (Inagh-Kilnamona)
7. Pa Mulready (Sixmilebridge)
6. Cathal Noonan (Killanena)
5. Tobias O’Meara (Killanena)
8. Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
9. Conor Tierney (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
12. Gary Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
11. David Fitzgerald (Clonlara)
10. Sean Kennedy (Kilmaley)
13. Sean O’Loughlin (Kilmaley)
14. Kieran Galvin (Clonlara)
15. Ian Murray (Bodyke)
Subs
23. Aidan Kennedy (Kilmaley) for Murray (39)
18. Sean Costelloe (Wolfe Tones) for McInerney (42, inj)
17. Tadhg Connellan (Éire Óg) for Cooney (47, inj)
21. Michael Danaher (Cratloe) for Galvin (57)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
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