Limerick 3-15
Clare 1-18
FOR SO LONG it was a Munster hurling day where the champions looked off-colour and yet when the situation was getting desperate, Limerick delivered in stunning fashion in this championship opener in Ennis.
They outscored Clare by 3-6 to 0-3 in the final quarter, recovering from a nine-point deficit to fashion a three-point victory. Clare were left reeling after dominating so much of the game with Diarmaid Byrnes, substitute Donnacha Ó Dálaigh and Aaron Gillane bagging the goals for John Kiely’s team.
The Ó Dálaigh strike on 65 put Limerick ahead by one after they had trailed for long stretches, the Gillane goal a minute later was a critical moment as it increased their advantage to four, Gearoid Hegarty playing a major role in creating both scores.
Clare tried to rally, Tony Kelly come off the bench to weigh in with their last two points of the game, but Limerick grabbed one in that closing time frame courtesy of Cian Lynch and their defence held firm as they complete a stunning turnaround.
The outcome was a huge disappointment for Clare after they had been in front 1-10 to 0-8 at half-time, a position that was fully merited. The goal that Clare had threatened finally arrived in the 29th minute. The team move was super to watch. Eibhear Quilligan’s sharp puckout, David McInerney’s perfectly-judged delivery, Shane O’Donnell’s swift pass snapped inside, and Aidan McCarthy lashing a shot to the net.
Nickie Quaid had previously done brilliantly to deny Mark Rodgers and David Reidy ons separate occasions as they fired shots towards the goal, but this time he was helpless.
The goal was the centrepiece of McCarthy’s first-half tally of 1-8. He nailed seven frees and raising that green flag pushed Clare 1-10 to 0-7 clear. Hegarty’s third point of the game was the only other score in the remainder of the half.
It left Limerick five down at the interval and in chase mode, nine wides racked up in an opening period where their shooting for points sparked regrets. Gillane also had two attempts at goal, but Eibhear Quilligan blocked one and the other was a weak shot that was stopped by Conor Cleary.
Clare’s good mood in the sunshine continued in the second half. They outscored Limerick 0-5 to 0-1 in the third quarter with Mark Rodgers beginning to impact as he notched a brace of points in that period. Limerick’s shooting was a recurring issue but they began to generate some momentum courtesy of Ó Dálaigh, Gillane (2) and Cathal O’Neill between the 53rd and 58th minutes.
An impressive point by Aidan McCarthy for Clare looked to have stemmed the tide, before the game shifted decisively when Diarmaid Byrnes launched a free from distance in the 59th minute that evaded Eibhear Quilligan in the Clare goal and dropped to the net.
That was the springboard for Limerick, David Reidy clipping over a point before further goals arrived from Ó Dálaigh and Gillane. Clare could not gather themselves again, the initiative had swung in Limerick’s direction and the title holders ensured from there that the 2024 serious stuff would begin on a winning note.
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 1-5 (0-5f), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 1-1, Diarmaid Byrnes 1-0, Gearóid Hegarty 0-3, Cathal O’Neill 0-2, David Reidy 0-2, Kyle Hayes 0-1, Cian Lynch 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 1-10 (0-8f), Mark Rodgers 0-2, David Fitzgerald 0-2, Tony Kelly 0-2 (0-1f), Séadna Morey 0-1, Shane O’Donnell 0-1.
Limerick
1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)
2. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), 3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane), 4. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. Declan Hannon (Adare),7. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
8. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), 15. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
10. Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patricks), 9. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister), 12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
11. David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca), 13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon)
Subs
- 20. Sean Finn (Bruff) for Casey (inj) (6)
- 25. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen) for Flanagan (45)
- 17. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for Tom Morrissey (49)
- 19. Adam English (Doon) for O’Donoghue (60)
- 23. Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown) for Gillane (67)
Clare
1. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2. Adam Hogan (Feakle), 3. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley), 17. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), 6. John Conlon (Clonlara), 20. David McInerney (Tulla)
9. Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones), 10. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge),
8. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona), 15. David Reidy (Eire Óg Ennis), 12. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
13. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona), 20. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), 11. Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
Subs
- 19. Séadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Lohan (half-time)
- 26. Tony Kelly (Ballyea) for Reidy (55)
- 18. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea) for Hayes (59)
- 24. Shane Meehan (Banner) for Rodgers (62)
- 23. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Fitzgerald (69)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
