Incredible stat that makes Limerick favourites in Munster hurling clash

Clare are favourites to overcome Limerick this Sunday and reach a first Munster final since 2008, when they were defeated by Tipperary. For Limerick, they will be looking to reach the decider for the first time since 2014, where they were beaten by Cork.

Limerick’s spring performances were uninspiring as two losses in Division 1B condemned them to another year in the second tier of the League. Despite overcoming a fancied Cork side in the League quarter final in Pairc Ui Rinn, they were comprehensively dispatched by Galway in the Gaelic Grounds a week later.

This aligned with Clare’s survival in Division 1A has lead many pundits to tip Clare to progress. However, Galway’s recent form poses questions as to how good Limerick actually are seeing as they dismantled Tipperary in the league final.

Regardless, the mood around the county is subdued in the lead up to the Munster Championship, something unfamiliar to the county.

Speaking to the Irish Times, former Limerick defender Stephen McDonagh said,

“That was very disappointing. We were expecting a big performance but it didn’t happen at all. We have seen Galway move on again since then but that game left Limerick people feeling very flat. The mood has been very quiet since then – as quiet as I’ve seen it.”

“Being realistic, you’d still have to say they are a bit ahead of Limerick. Then again, as results have shown over the years, there’s usually little enough between the teams.”

And McDonagh is completely right when he says that there’s usually little between the teams. Since 1991, Limerick have faced Clare 12 times in the championship. Both sides have come away with 6 wins each. However, a strange statistic pops up when you analyse the results.

CLARE v LIMERICK

It’s 6-6 in an every-second-game sequence since 1991

2016: Clare 0-19 Limerick 0-15 (Qualifiers)

2015: Limerick 1-19 Clare 2-15 (Munster q/f)

2013: Clare 1-22 Limerick 0-18 (All-Ireland s/f)

2012: Limerick 3-18 Clare 1-20 (Qualifiers)

2008: Clare 4-12 Limerick 1-16 (Munster s/f)

2007: Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-16 (All-Ireland q/f)

2006: Clare 2-21 Limerick 0-10 (Qualifiers)

1996: Limerick 1-13 Clare 0-15 (Munster s/f)

1995: Clare 1-17 Limerick 0-11 (Munster f)

1994: Limerick 0-25 Clare 2-10 (Munster f)

1993: Clare 3-16 Limerick 3-12 (Munster q/f)

1991: Limerick 0-21 Clare 1-15 (Munster q/f)

Incredibly, neither team has managed to win back-to-back against one another since that Munster quarter final in 1991. With Clare defeating the Treaty last summer in the Qualifiers, should this trend continue, Limerick will come out on top this weekend.

Social Sharing

Posted in

John Kiely says League semi-final is “the best possible preparation” for the Munster championship

The result ended Limerick's four-year wait for a league semi-final berth with their previous clash at the stage ...
Read More

BREAKING | Limerick’s U20 Hurling Championship opener in Waterford postponed

Limerick and Waterford played out their Munster Minor Championship clash in woeful conditions at the same venue on ...
Read More

HIGHLIGHTS | Limerick Minors hold off Waterford in horrendous conditions

Evan Loftus praised his side for their efforts in testing conditions as they welcome Clare next weekend in ...
Read More

Limerick start minor campaign with narrow Waterford win in woeful conditions

Waterford 0-7Limerick 1-7By Tom Clancy in Fraher Field Limerick opened their Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship with ...
Read More

“We had plenty of chances” | Mark Fitzgerald laments missed opportunities as Limerick are relegated

It was a first game in charge for Fitzgerald, with Ray Dempsey stepping down from the role just ...
Read More

Five Unsung Limerick U20s to Watch in Munster Hurling Championship

Who will be the next set of U20 players to lay down their markers as future Limerick hurling ...
Read More

Iris Kennelly selected on Ladies HEC Rising Star team for second season running

THE Yoplait HEC All-Stars and Rising Stars have been announced following the conclusion of the 2023 Championships. Limerick's ...
Read More

Diarmuid Mullins includes seven from last year’s final for Limerick’s Munster U20 Championship opener in Waterford

The squad contains eleven of the players that started in Limerick's Munster Minor Championship final win over Tipperary ...
Read More