Limerick 3-18
Clare 0-13
Daragh Small reporting from Cusack Park
BRIAN RYAN SCORED six points from play as Limerick began the defence of their All-Ireland U-21 crown with an emphatic 14-point Munster quarter-final win over the 14-men of Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis.
The two dominant forces at this age grade in recent years served up a brilliant first half of hurling in front of 3,135. Clare only trailed by 0-10 to 0-8 at that stage, but Limerick took complete control in the latter stages of the second half.
Conor O’Halloran had been sent-off for Clare, and the goals came from Seamus Flanagan, Conor Boylan and Mark O’Dwyer.
Limerick had a great start to the game and they went 0-3 to 0-0 and then 0-6 to 0-1 up by the 14th minute, before Clare began to convert their numerous chances in front of goal.
Michael Corry scored Clare’s only point in the opening quarter, with Boylan, Barry Murphy, Ryan (two), Darren O’Connell and the brilliant Flanagan all landing efforts for Limerick.
A Clare comeback looked unlikely when Murphy scored his second point and Limerick held a double scores, 0-10 to 0-4 lead, with five minutes remaining in the first half.
But Padraic O’Loughlin, Gary Cooney and two Aidan McCarthy frees altered the complexion of the game entirely at half-time.
Conor O’Halloran’s straight red card for a collision with O’Connell in the 32nd minute looked set to put Limerick on their way again. And they held a 0-13 to 0-9 lead when Ryan tapped over his fifth point from play.
Limerick have beaten Clare in the U21 Munster Quarter-Final. Check out the full-time highlights here! pic.twitter.com/PV0fCwTaAz
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 7, 2018
But substitute Padraic O’Loughlin responded, while Clare goalkeeper Killian Nugent made his third point blank save to deny Flanagan up the other end.
Flanagan eventually found a way through in the 45th minute and that goal was the pivotal score – he blasted low to Nugent’s bottom left corner.
Eight minutes from full-time Boylan added a second goal and O’Dwyer found the net with his first touch.
Scorers for Limerick: Brian Ryan 0-6, Seamus Flanagan 1-2, Conor Boylan 1-2, Barry Murphy 0-5 (0-4f), Mark O’Dwyer 1-1, Darren O’Connell 0-1, Paddy O’Loughlin 0-1
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-6 (0-6f), Gary Cooney 0-2, Padraic O’Loughlin 0-2, Michael Corry 0-1, Steven Conway 0-1, Sean O’Loughlin 0-1
Limerick
1. Jamie Power (Monaleen)
2. Brian McPartland (Doon)
3. Josh Adams (Ballybrown)
4. John Flynn (Patrickswell)
5. Daniel Minehan (Ahane)
6. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo Pallaskenry)
7. Thomas Grimes (Na Piarsaigh)
8. Paddy O’Loughlin (Kilmallock)
9. Mike Mackey (Adare)
10. Brian Ryan (South Liberties)
11. Barry Murphy (Doon)
12. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Darren O’Connell (Kildimo Pallaskenry)
14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh)
15. Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock)
Subs:
17. Paudi Ahern (Killeedy) for O’Connell (44)
23. Willie O’Meara (Askeaton) for Minehan (50)
22. Mark O’Dwyer (Monaleen) for O’Reilly (54)
20. Micheál Houlihan (Kilmallock) for Ryan (57)
24. Brian Timmins (Murroe Boher) for McPartland (57).
Clare
1. Killian Nugent (O’Callaghan Mills)
4. Bradley Higgins (Kilmaley)
3. Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
2. Conor O’Halloran (Éire Óg)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6. Jason McCarthy (Inagh Kilnamona)
7. Pauric McNamara (Kilmaley)
8. Michael Corry (Clooney / Quin)
9. Kieran Galvin (Clonlara)
12. Steven Conway (Feakle)
11. Gary Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
10. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh Kilnamona)
13. Joe Carmody (Kilmaley)
14. Colin Guilfoyle (Newmarket on Fergus)
15. Billy Connors (Cratloe)
Subs:
21. Padraic O’Loughlin (Clonlara) for Carmody (21)
20. Sean O’Loughlin (Kilmaley) for Conway (30)
17. Liam O’Connor (Newmarket on Fergus) for Corry (half-time)
19. Cathal Darcy (Kilmaley) for Galvin (39)
22. Michael O’Shea (Smith O’Briens) for Connors (51).
Referee: Philip Kelly (Tipperary).
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