Five Things We Learned | Opposition tactics, Indiscipline and More as Limerick and Clare play out a draw

There was nothing to separate the Munster rivals at the end of their National League clash on Sunday.

Limerick and Clare played out an entertaining if unspectacular draw on Sunday afternoon in the fourth round of the National Hurling League.

The result means Limerick have gone four games without a win for the first time since John Kiely was named as manager of the side in 2016.

Limerick failed to impress once again but will feel there was plenty of chances to win in Ennis for the second time this year.

Similarly, Clare will feel the same with both sides out of the promotion race now.

Their Championship clash is just two months away and reflecting on Sunday’s encounter, here are five things we learned.

Cathal O’Neill furthers his case for starting berth

A huge bright spot from a largely forgettable league campaign has been the recent performances of Cathal O’Neill. The highly touted minor, wasn’t seen much last summer with just one start coming in the defeat to Galway.

But this year is quickly becoming a breakout one for the Crecora Manister man who has started every game this year. He started with a bang, hitting four points against Kerry before going off the boil against Clare and Wexford.

He bounced back with a supreme performance against Galway and hasn’t looked back since. More suited to wing forward, with Peter Casey out, it seems more and more likely that he will be named at #15 come championship time after impressing in the corner in Ennis.

He has also bee in scintillating form for the UL Freshers team hitting over 1-9 collectively in the semi-final and final.

---

Teams allowing Limerick to go short on puckouts

Alluded to on the Sunday game, Limerick’s puckout strategy was tested in Ennis as it was against Cork the previous week. Teams are allowing Limerick to go short to the full back line before engaging around the 45. This is cutting down the space for the Shannonsiders in the forward ranks and is also crowding the midfield, allowing teams to overturn Limerick.

Kiely’s side have become known for playing through the lines but with so many opposition bodies in those areas, it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Allied with Limerick, being slightly off the pace so far, the puckout situation needs to be addressed quickly.

What was once a real weapon is slowly turning into a liability but no better pair than Kiely and Kinnerk to solve this.

---

Indsicipline rears its head (again)

Few would have thought when Gearoid Hegarty got sent off against Galway, that successive red cards would follow in in the subsequent weeks. Hegarty’s was looked at as a turning point with Limerick playing too close to the ‘edge’.

But against Cork, Seamus Flanagan received his marching orders while Aaron Gillane was in a similar position on Sunday. Flanagan’s was reckless in the fact that Shane Kingston was sent off for a similar tackle just moments earlier. Gillane’s was more akin to Hegarty’s with little impact but reckless use of the hurley.

Surely now, the message will be drilled home that Limerick can ill afford to lose a player, especially if they are not firing on all cylinders.

Diagonal ball not working

From junior at club level to the intercounty game, the diagonal ball is all the rage as a one stop solution to guarantee scores. But as Limerick have learned in recent weeks, teams have become accustomed to that type of ball, with the Banner cutting out a number on Sunday.

How often, did see a ball aimed for an inside target, only to intercepted by someone in yellow. Similarly, this happened in Limerick’s favour with teams so aware of the danger that such a ball presents. And without Peter Casey, the runs haven’t been of the same level of someone who has plyed all their trade in at corner forward.

There isn’t much rectifying needed, only for Limerick to use a ball down the sideline more often to keep the opposition honest.

---

Defence holds firm

To be fair to Limerick, while play out the field has been far from perfect, the performance of the defence was superb once more. Limerick conceded 0-18 on Sunday with just nine of those scores coming from play. It was another clean sheet for Nickie Quaid with Limerick conceding just three goals so far in the League.

Tony Kelly was kept to three scores from play which would please any opposition manager such is the Ballyea’s man talent. David Fitzgerald was the only other player to score more than once as the defence kept the ship on course.

Barry Nash, Richie English and Dan Morrissey have barely put a foot wrong so far with Sean Finn certain to start come championship time. Should Limerick get their scoring in order, the team will be well on its way.