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The two sides last met in April of this year, when the Banner ran out one point winners, and John Kiely’s men will be eager for revenge.
Limerick meet Clare in the final of the Munster Hurling Championship on June 11, in what promises to be another thrilling encounter between the pair. The two sides last met in April of this year, when the Banner ran out one point winners to end Limerick’s 17 championship match unbeaten run, and John Kiely’s men will be eager for revenge.
It will be a repeat of last year’s Munster final, where Limerick needed extra time to get over the line, following a titanic battle with their rivals in Thurles.
Clare topped the table in the championship, and were most likely expecting to meet Tipperary in the final, but Kiely’s side did what was needed against Cork, and have found themselves in a fifth consecutive Munster final.
With pride and silverware at stake when the old rivals meet on June 11, we look back at their five most recent championship encounters.
Limerick 1-28 : 0-13 Clare (Munster Hurling Championship)
9 June 2019 in the Gaelic Grounds
With both sides season’s at stake after a couple of poor results for both teams in the round robin, the defending All-Ireland champions flexed their muscles to secure an 18-point win and first over Clare in four attempts.
Limerick imposed their dominance right from the start racing into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.
Heading into half time the Treaty men stretched their lead out to eight points with all of their forwards on the scoresheet and William O’Donoghue and Declan Hannon adding some from further out the field.
Limerick’s defence was imperious on the day and when Aaron Gillane struck the back of the net on the hour mark, their lead was out to 14.
In the end, the margin was 1-28 to 0-13 in Limerick’s favour as Clare bowed out of the championship.
Limerick 0-36 : 1-23 Clare (Munster Hurling Championship)
25 October 2020 in Semple Stadium
Limerick kicked off the defence of their Munster championship behind closed doors with a comprehensive victory over Clare in Semple Stadium.
Seventeen points from Tony Kelly did little to deter the Limerick juggernaut as Gearoid Hegarty kicked off his HOTY campaign with five from play.
It was tit for tat at the beginning with both sides trading scores and each assuming the lead at various stages.
Tom Morrissey put Limerick three points up before the Banner men struck three more back leaving the score level at half time with 0-15 apiece.
Limerick hit the ground running on the restart and shot over six on the bounce to pull clear.
Clare responded with a Ryan Taylor goal after 46 minutes and with twenty to play, there was only two between the sides.
But from here Limerick put on the afterburners to storm to victory.
Limerick 1-21 : 0-24 Clare (Munster Hurling Championship)
May 15th 2022 in Ennis
Limerick maintained their unbeaten record in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship after a 1-21 to 0-24 draw with Clare that booked both sides place in the provincial final.
The two teams traded scores throughout the game with Kyle Hayes finding the back of the net on the fifteen minute mark.
Tony Kelly, hit the last of his 16 points just ten minutes into the second half but the teams were still level when Gearoid Hegarty was controversially sent off with ten to play.
But with a man down, Diarmuid Byrnes came to the teams rescue with his ninth point to draw the sides level for the 14th time in the game with time in the red.
Limerick 1-29 : 0-29 Clare (AET) (Munster Hurling Championship Final)
6 May 2022 in Semple Stadium
In their first Munster final meeting since 1995, Limerick needed extra-time to see off a spirited Banner side and claim their fourth successive provincial crown.
Tony Kelly ensured the additional twenty minutes with an incredible sideline in the dying embers but Limerick’s might proved too strong in extra-time.
Clare roared into the contest with the first three points of the game. Limerick battled back to level at 0-4 apiece with the sides going score for score therein.
The teams were level 14 times throughout the contest with Gearoid Hegarty restoring parity in there 27th minute, finishing an incredible goal.
It remained level to the half at 1-11 to 0-14. They would go blow for blow in the second half with Declan Hannon’s 72nd minute effort from inside his own half looking like the difference. Kelly replied immediately after with the teams level for the fourth successive half.
But Limerick had the first three scores of extra-time with William O’Donoghue then sealing the result with a point from the sideline in the final minute of the 90 to joyous scenes in Thurles.
Limerick 2-20 : 1-24 Clare (Munster Hurling Championship)
29 April 2023 in the TUS Gaelic Grounds
The sides met earlier this year in the TUS Gaelic Grounds, as Clare managed to beat Limerick by just one point, and end their 17 game championship unbeaten streak.
Tony Kelly set the tone for a thrilling clash when he fired over a fantastic point from the sideline in the opening minute. Kelly scored a monster point from his own half just four minutes later as the Banner raced into an early lead, shocking the Treaty with their intensity early on.
Limerick fought back to bring the game within touching distance, and they took control when Seamus Flanagan goaled just before the half hour mark. John Kiely’s men held a one point lead going into the half time break, on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-12.
Peter Duggan fired in a brilliant goal less than five minutes into the second half, shaking off multiple Limerick men, before finishing past Nickie Quaid.
Flanagan found the net for his second of the day with just a minute of injury time to play, but his goal would not be enough, as substitute Aron Shanagher scored two crucial added time scores to help Clare secure a one point win in the latest instalment of this age old rivalry.
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