*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A PULSATING MUNSTER FINAL pitting the Shannonside rivals of Clare and Limerick against each other went the way of the Treaty County following an epic encounter.
Limerick 1-29
Clare 0-29
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
What will be remembered as a thriller in Thurles resulted in Limerick winning their fourth provincial senior title in a row at Clare’s expense. It was their first Munster final meeting since 1995 but Declan Hannon’s late second half score certainly gave off vibes of 1996 when Ciaran Carey ended the Ger Loughnane managed Clare’s reign as All-Ireland champions.
There was fifty nine scores in ninety one minutes of hurling, over fifty Gardaí were on duty in Semple Stadium as 45,000 spectators in attendance.
Extra time gave the sellout attendance even more of the contest to savour with Limerick justifying their standing as the country’s top team with Brian Lohan’s Clare once again showing they are worthy if not their closest challengers.
Rain was pouring down since early on Sunday morning in Thurles but once the action commenced, the downpour parted. An extremely physical start to proceedings signalled that this was the return of a proper Munster hurling final with referee John Keenan happy to let a lot flow at the early stages.
Inside the first seven minutes, Clare had built up a 0-03 0-00 advantage with Tony Kelly, Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor all finding the target. At the other end, scores were harder to come by for the reigning All-Ireland champions with Seamus Flanagan spurning a glorious chance to raise a green flag on three minutes, he failed to connect with a kick of the sliotar as David McInerney and Rory Hayes were beginning to close in.
A placed ball from Aaron Gillane was Limerick’s first score on eight minutes, their previous three attempts had not sent either of Keenan’s umpires stretching for a flag of any colour. A spurt of scores then followed for John Kiely’s men as they hit 0-04 without reply to lead for the first time with twelve minutes on the clock.
Far from deterred, the ever spirited Clare responded mainly through Tony Kelly with the next two points to regain the lead, the second of these scores included a fantastic hook by Kelly on Gearoid Hegarty before he covered 40 plus metres to split the posts.
Through the threatening Seamus Flanagan and Diarmaid Byrnes’ first placed ball Limerick had the next two scores before Clare went one better with Ryan Taylor, Kelly and David Fitzgerald swinging the advantage back in their favour.
Clare’s three point advantage was washed out when Gearoid Hegarty nestled the sliotar past Eibhear Quilligan, Tom Morrissey held up the opposing defence before handpassing to Hegarty who made no mistake with his conversion.
Flanagan hit his fourth point of the evening prompting Brian Lohan and his selectors to switch Rory Hayes with Paul Flanagan. Tony Kelly finished the half with Clare’s last two scores with Tom Morrissey doing well to pull off a strike in a huddle of bodies never mind score to ensure the counties were level 0-14 1-11 at half-time.
David Fitzgerald had the first score on the restart, this was followed by six wides, two for Clare and four from Limerick before Cathal O’Neill levelled matters on forty three minutes. The topsy turvy nature of the contest continued with Tony Kelly on the double, Tom Morrissey, Gillane and Darragh O’Donovan hitting the target.
Substitute Shane Meehan hit yet another equaliser with the clock reading fifty nine minutes played. Peter Duggan then took up the free taking duties and made no mistake with his first attempt to put Lohan’s man back ahead.
Three scores in a row saw the pendulum swing back in Clare’s favour before it looked like Declan Hannon had sealed the win for Limerick. The Banner had other ideas and with one more chance looming, a sideline ball was fearlessly and expertly put between the posts by Tony Kelly to ensure it would take extra time to determine a winner.
When it come to extra time, there was an extra kick in the Limerick men. They limited Clare to a single score in the first period while tacking on 0-03 of their own.
Once again, David Fitzgerald was first on the board following a restart but the ever dangerous Seamus Flanagan responded. Tony Kelly and Aaron Gillane traded efforts before Limerick struck for two points via substitutes David Reidy and Conor Boylan. A Will O’Donoghue white flag sandwiched between two Mark Rodgers points ensured that come the final whistle, the Mick Mackey Cup would be resting in the hands of Declan Hannon.
Crucially Limerick found another gear when it came to extra time, they were certainly pressed and pushed the whole way but of the two sides they were the ones who looked like raiding for a goal and Gearoid Hegarty’s green flag in the opening half ultimately proved the difference. Tony Kelly aside, they were able to dilute Clare’s main threats and once again are headed for Croke Park to defend their status as All-Ireland champions with Cian Lynch still to return to the fold. Seamus Flanagan produced his greatest display in a Limerick jersey with Barry Nash, Declan Hannon, Sean Finn and Tom Morrrissey also impressing.
Effort and application of inter-county sides can rarely be questioned given the commitments required in the modern day. Clare certainly put Limerick to the pin of their collar in a Munster final to remember. Crucially for them to cause what was considered an upset, greater aid needed to have been supplied to Tony Kelly who admirably led the charge, of worry is the fact that he had to retire in extra time with a suspected ankle injury, the Ballyea man underwent surgery on a long-standing ankle complaint last October.
Unlike many senior sides, Brian Lohan’s Clare do not fear Limerick and this is one of their greatest strengths. Their whole forward line did not fire to threaten Nickie Quaid’s goalmouth while impact off the bench must be greater to take home silverware. Tony Kelly once again showed his tag as the country’s hurler is justified, Ryan Taylor and David Fitzgerald were superb.
Limerick have taken the provincial prize, there are bigger prizes to claim and for Clare this is what they must start focusing and working towards as a repeat pairing between the counties cannot be ruled out for All-Ireland final day. Before that can materialise, stiff tests await, either Wexford or Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-finals before a last four clash with Brian Cody’s Kilkenny.
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-10 (0-7f), Seamus Flanagan 0-8, Gearoid Hegarty 1-0, Tom Morrissey 0-3, Cathal O’Neill 0-2, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-1 (0-1f), Declan Hannon 0-1, Darragh O’Donovan 0-1, Conor Boylan 0-1, David Reidy 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 0-13 (0-5f, 0-1 sideline), David Fitzgerald 0-5, Peter Duggan 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 sideline), Ryan Taylor 0-3, Mark Rodgers 0-2 (0-1f), Shane Meehan 0-1, Ian Galvin 0-1.
Limerick:
1: Nickie Quaid (Effin)
4: Barry Nash (South Liberties)
3: Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
2: Sean Finn (Bruff)
5: Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6: Declan Hannon (Adare)
7: Dan Morrissey (Ahane)
8: William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh)
9: Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
10: Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s)
11: Cathal O’Neill (Crecora)
12: Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
15: Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)
13: Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
14: Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon)
Subs:
22: Richie English (Doon) for Casey (56)
26: David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) for O’Neill (57)
24: Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for O’Donovan (63)
18: Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for Morrissey (64)
25: Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock) for Hegarty (86)
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
3: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4: Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
7: David McInerney (Tulla)
10: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
13: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
8: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
14: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin)
12: Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
15: Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
11: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
9: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs:
19: Shane Meehan (Banner) for Galvin (54)
23: Robin Mounsey (Ruan) for Reidy (63)
18: Cian Nolan (Smith O’Briens) for Flanagan (69)
26: Mark Rodgers (Scariff) for Ryan (70)
David Reidy for O’Donnell (82)
25: Patrick Crotty (Scariff) for Duggan (85)
21: Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge) for Kelly (87) (inj)
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
