Clare minor hurlers qualify for successive Munster final

*Michael Collins impressed again for the Clare minors. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

BACK TO BACK Munster final appearances have been achieved by Clare’s minor hurlers.

Clare 2-21
Limerick 2-15
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Six points separated Clare and Limerick on Tuesday evening, a winning semi-final margin that sends the Banner County back to a successive Munster final appearance. When the counties a month ago, Limerick ran out four point winners but the result was overturned in front of 1,804 people on Tuesday night.

Despite a rocky start where they fell 0-03 0-00 behind, Clare settled into proceedings and exerted their stamp on the game by the sounding of the half-time whistle where they were in a healthy 1-12 0-08 lead.

Cratloe’s Marc O’Brien goaled on the stroke of half time, flicking the sliotar from goalkeeper Joe Fitzgerald after he saved an effort from Michael Power.

Captain Eoghan Gunning was inspirational at corner back for the winners while James Hegarty, Matthew O’Halloran, Michael Collins and O’Brien had starring roles for Brian O’Connell’s side.

Fresh from the senior hurlers defeating Limerick on Saturday, the latest result brings a further lift to hurling in Co Clare who now look forward to a Munster minor final against Cork on Tuesday week (May 9th). Here, they’ll hope for a better outcome than last year’s decider which was decided on a penalty shootout.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Scorers Clare: M O’Brien (2-3 1f), M Collins (0-6), F Hegarty (0-3), J Hegarty (0-2 2f), M Power (0-2), R Kilroy (0-1), J Mecall (0-1), S Arthur (0-1), E Mulcahy (0-1), E Begley (0-1).

Scorers Limerick: D Collopy (0-4 2f), P Kearney (1-1), D Gleeson (0-3 2f 1’65), D Ferland (1-0), H Flanagan (0-2), T Boddy (0-2), R O’Farrell (0-2), S Duff (0-1)

Clare:
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)

2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
3: Ronan Keane (Killanena)
4: Conor Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona)

7: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
5: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)

8: Jack Mescall (Inagh/Kilnamona)
9: Emmet Mulcahy (Tulla)

12: Sean Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
11: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
10: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)

15: Michael Power (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
14: Marc O’Brien (Cratloe)
13: Oige Fanning (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)

Subs:
24. Evan Price (Clarecastle) for Mulcahy (43) (inj)
17. Fred Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Arthur (45)
20. Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) for Fanning (48)
22. Eoin Begley (Clonlara) for Kilroy (52)
21. Daire Neville (Cratloe) for Power (63)

Limerick:
1: Joe Fitzgerald (Killdimo Pallaskenry)

2: John O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh)
3: Conor Bickford (Ahane)
4: Sean Morrissey (Dromin Athlacca)

5: Jack Cosgrove (Ahane)
6: Sean Casey (Bruff)
7: Darragh Gleeson (Adare)

8: Diarmuid Lyons (Newcastle West)
14: Michael Leo (Knockainey)

10: Robert O’Farrell (Killdimo Pallaskenry)
11: Dave Ferland (Monaleen)
9: Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen)

13: Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane)
12: Tadhg Broddy (Bruff)
15: Darren Collopy (Murroe Boher)

Subs:
24. Patrick Kearney (Adare) for Leo (HT)
20. Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul’s) for Collopy (48)
17. Declan Heavey (Garryspillane) for O’Keeffe (53)

Referee: Nicky Barry (Waterford)