Clare 2-20
Limerick 1-14
A SERIOUS INJURY to senior panellist Aaron Cunningham marred Clare’s progression to the semi-finals of the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling championship this evening.
Cunningham was stretchered off with what appeared to be a knee injury, sustained in inoccuous fashion, two minutes from the end of a nine-point victory for the reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions.
The Wolfe Tones clubman had scored 1-1 before suffering what could be a season-ending injury.
Clare, despite playing against the breeze in the second half, were superb as they booked a semi-final showdown with Tipp in Cusack Park on July 16.
With five starting survivors from the team that began last year’s All-Ireland final, the Banner County produced a strong second half display, crowned by goals from Cunningham and fellow senior panellist Peter Duggan.
Limerick’s senior hero from last Sunday, Shane Dowling, had a second half free that ended up in the net disallowed.
And Limerick were 12 points down before Kevin O’Brien slammed home a consolation goal for the hosts at the Gaelic Grounds.
Clare, missing injured Shane O’Donnell, Cathal O’Connell and Alan O’Neill, could even afford the luxury of eleven wides in front of 6,063 spectators at the city venue.
Clare led by 0-12 to 0-10 at the end of a first half that had seen the Banner County ahead by five points on two separate occasions.
When Bobby Duggan fired over a point in the 23rd minute, they led by 0-10 to 0-5 before Duggan’s 26th minute score had them 0-11 to 0-6 in front.
But Limerick, playing against the breeze, dug in before half-time with Mark Carmody bombing forward from the half-back line to slot over a point before Shane Dowling sent a 20m free whizzing just over the crossbar.
Dowling added another free, Clare senior star Colm Galvin responded and Mike Fitzgibbon completed the first half scoring in stoppage time to keep Limerick in touch.
The sides had been level three times inside the opening 15 minutes, with Pat Ryan coming close to netting a Limerick goal in the tenth minute.
The Doon man sent a shot over the crossbar after full-forward Kevin O’Brien had angled a neat pass across the face of goal.
Limerick’s woes were compounded when centre-back Diarmuid Byrnes was sent-off late on for a second yellow card.
Scorers for Clare: Bobby Duggan 0-8 (5f), Aaron Cunningham, Peter Duggan 1-1 each, Tony Kelly 0-3, Seadna Morey, Colm Galvin, Shane Gleeson 0-2 each, Jamie Shanahan 0-1.
Scorers for Limerick: Shane Dowling 0-8f, Kevin O’Brien 1-0, Mark Carmody, Dan Morrissey, Cian Lynch, Mike Fitzgibbon, Pat Ryan & Darragh O’Donovan 0-1 each.
CLARE
1. Keith Hogan (Clooney-Quin)
2. Jarlath Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
3. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
5. Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea)
6. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
7. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
8. Eoin Enright (Kilmaley)
9. Colm Galvin (Cratloe)
10. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
12. Shane Gleeson (Cratloe)
13. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones)
14. David Reidy (Eire Og)
15. Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle)
Subs
Shane McGrath (Feakle) for Gleeson (54)
Shane O’Brien (Clonlara) for Colleran (58)
Shane Taylor (Broadford) for Cunningham (inj) (58)
Niall O’Connor (Newmarket on Fergus) for O’Connell (60+1)
Stephen Ward (Clarecastle) for Kelly (60+2)
LIMERICK
1. Darragh Stapleton (Doon)
2. Mark Callaghan (Knockaderry)
3. Richie English (Doon)
4. Shane Irwin (Bruff)
5. Mark Carmody (Patrickswell)
6. Diarmuid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
7. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)
8. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh)
9. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
10. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) – captain
11. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh)
12. Mike Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh)
13. Liam O’Sullivan (Knockaderry)
14. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell)
15. Pat Ryan (Doon)
Subs
Darragh O’Donovan (Doon) for O’Donoghue (38)
Dean Coleman (Doon) for O’Sullivan (42)
Bryan Griffin (Ballybrown) for Fitzgibbon (47)
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)
