Clare 0-19 Limerick 0-15
Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare are through to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals after Tony Kelly inspired the Banner County to victory over Limerick this evening, writes Jackie Cahill.
Limerick won two of the last three Championship meetings between the counties – including a Munster SHC quarter-final last year – but Clare smashed their recent qualifier hoodoo to keep their season alive.
After tumbling out of the Championship at the qualifier stages for the past two seasons, 2013 All-Ireland champions Clare finally broke through to the quarter-finals again.
And it was Kelly – Hurler of the Year three years ago – who showed the leadership required to see them home, finishing with nine points.
Three points clear in the closing minutes, Clare were awarded a penalty when Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid barged into Aaron Shanagher.
Kelly took the sensible option and popped the ball over the bar to establish a four-point advantage – 0-18 to 0-14.
James Ryan reduced Clare’s lead back to three points with a Limerick score but Kelly flashed over the insurance score in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
On the balance of play, Clare were deserved winners and a blistering run of nine unanswered points in the first half provided the platform for victory.
Clare signalled their intent with a point after just 15 seconds from Shanagher but fired-up Limerick hit back to lead by 0-4 to 0-1 and 0-5 to 0-2.
However, Darragh O’Donovan’s 7th-minute point was Limerick’s last from play in the entire first half and they didn’t score again before the break following Shane Dowling’s 65 in the 18th minute.
That score followed a magnificent goal-saving intervention from Brendan Bugler to deny Dowling a goal – and Clare rallied by flashing over some brilliant points.
They had nine wides before the break, too, including four from Colm Galvin but Clare clicked into gear and overwhelmed Limerick.
Podge Collins was excellent in a roving role and Shane O’Donnell clipped over a couple of points and worked hard to force errors and turnovers from Limerick defenders.
At half-time, Clare were 0-11 to 0-5 clear and looking winners all over but Limerick opened the second half with two points to narrow the gap to four.
Back came Clare with a couple of settlers from Kelly; an O’Donnell point sandwiched in between, but Limerick had fight in them in what looks certain to be TJ Ryan’s last in charge.
Although Clare appeared to be keeping Limerick at arm’s length in front of 15,540 spectators, Ryan’s men rallied to within three points down the home straight.
Clare nerves jangled but they helm firm to advance and while much of their work was of the highest class, a second-half fadeout will concern manager Fitzgerald.
Scorers for Clare: T Kelly 0-9 (5f, 1 65, 0-1 pen), P Collins & S O’Donnell 0-3 each, D McInerney, J Browne, J Conlon & A Shanagher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Limerick: S Dowling 0-6 (5f, 1 65), D Byrnes 0-3, J Ryan 0-2, D O’Donovan, P Browne, K Downes & G Hegarty 0-1 each.
CLARE: A Fahy; P O’Connor, C Dillon, J Browne; O O’Brien, D McInerney, B Bugler; C Galvin, D Reidy; C Cleary, J Conlon, P Collins; S O’Donnell, T Kelly, A Shanagher.
Subs: A Cunningham for Conlon (47), D Fitzgerald for Bugler (66).
LIMERICK: N Quaid; T Condon, R McCarthy, R English; D Byrnes, G O’Mahony, P O’Brien; P Browne, D O’Donovan; D Hannon, J Ryan, C Lynch; K Downes, S Dowling, G Mulcahy.
Subs: T Morrissey for O’Donovan (h.t.), G Hegarty for Hannon (h.t.), S Hickey for O’Brien (42), B Nash for Mulcahy (56), A Dempsey for English (60).
Referee: J Owens (Wexford)
