Clare 1-13
Limerick 1-12
Declan Rooney reports from Cusack Park
CLARE DOMINATED THEIR neighbours Limerick to reach the Munster semi-final, but they were left sweating at the death after a goal from Josh Ryan closed the winning margin to a point.
Sean McSweeney could have levelled it for Limerick moments later, but his shot drifted wide and Clare held on to set up a last-four clash with Kerry in a fortnight’s time.
The key score of the first half arrived after 10 minutes when Jamie Malone picked out Eoin Cleary with a measured long kick-pass. Limerick’s Johnny McCarthy narrowly failed to cut it out, and Cleary rounded Donal O’Sullivan to make it 1-3 to 0-1.
With Clare the physically dominant side, Limerick worked the majority of their kick-outs short to the corner-backs. After some patient play up the field, they managed to settle themselves thanks to points form Danny Neville and Ger Collins.
Clare were dangerous on the counter-attack though and Keelan Sexton twice finished off flowing moves from deep, while Limerick’s slack passing also cost them scores.
David Ward could have drawn Limerick level in the 22nd minute but he pulled his shot wide of goal, and at the other end a brilliant save from Donal O’Sullivan denied Sexton after he crept in behind the Limerick cover.
But the Banner men were good value for their 1-8 to 0-6 half-time lead, and when Cleary added another score straight after the restart they opened up a six-point advantage.
But the following 15 minutes were poor as Clare kicked four wides while Limerick had three before Danny Neville found the next score.
That jolted both teams out of the malaise and Tubridy kicked a great score from the left to restore Clare’s cushion. At the other end, Sean O’De roamed up field to point for Limerick.
And while O’Carroll and Corbett kicked two in a row for Limerick and Josh Ryan hit a quick 1-1 when he moved into full-forward, Clare held on to take the precious win.
Scorers for Clare: E Cleary 1-4 (2f), D Tubridy 0-4 (2f), K Sexton 0-3 (1f), S Collins 0-1, P Lillis 0-1
Scorers for Limerick: J Ryan 1-1, S O’Carroll 0-3 (1’sl), G Collins 0-2 (1f), D Neville 0-2, J Naughton 0-1, D Tracey 0-1, I Corbett 0-1, S O’Dea 0-1.
Clare
1 Joe Hayes (Lissycasey)
6 Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s)
3 Kevin Harnett (Meelick)
4 Martin McMahon (Kilmurray Ibrickane)
5 Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
2 Dean Ryan (Eire Og)
7 John Hayes (Kilrush Shamrocks)
8 Gary Brennan (c) (Clondegad)
12 Shane Brennan (Clondegad)
9 Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
11 Sean Collins (Cratloe)
10 Jamie Malone (Corofin)
13 Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s)
14 David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
15 Keelan Sexton (Kilmurray Ibrickane)
Subs:
26 Ciaran Russell (Eire Og) for Malone (34-37 blood),
21 Liam Markham (Cratloe) for O’Connor (61)
25 Gearoid O’Brien (St Joseph’s) for Collins (66)
23 Seanie Malone (St Joseph’s) for Tubridy (71)
24 Darren Nagle (Liscannor) for Harnett (72)
Limerick
1 Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen)
2 Daniel Daly (Fr Caseys)
3 Johnny McCarthy (St Kieran’s)
4 Séan O’Dea (Kilteely Dromkeen)
5 Paul White (Rathkeale)
7 Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen)
12 Garrett Noonan (Dromcollogher Broadford)
8 Darragh Tracey (St Kieran’s)
9 David Ward (Fr Casey’s)
10 Peter Nash (Kildimo Pallaskenry)
11 James Naughton (St Senan’s)
6 Iain Corbett (c) (Newcastlewest)
13 Seamus O’Carroll (Castleknock)
14 Danny Neville (Ballysteen)
15 Ger Collins (Monaleem).
Subs:
21 Josh Ryan (Oola) for Ward (47)
22 Sean McSweeney (St Kieran’s) for Nash (52)
19 Jamie Lee (Newcastlewest) for Naughton (57)
17 Tony McCarthy (Kildimo Pallaskenry) for Daly (61)
20 Padraig Scanlon (Glin) for Collins (64),
18 Padraig Quinn (Monaleen) for O’Carroll (68)
Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).
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