“Lets see can we build on that” | Mark Fitzgerald remaining upbeat despite Limerick’s elimination from the Munster SFC

Taking the positives from the performance, Limerick manager Mark Fitzgerald is hoping they “can build on” the display.

Limerick will rue missed chances in the final quarter as Clare held on for a 1-16 to 0-16 win in the TUS Gaelic Grounds to seal their place in the Munster Football Final.

The Banner had the games first goal with the opening score but Limerick battled back to take the lead midway through the second half.

But a run of scores from the visitors pulled them clear with Limerick guilty of missing chances in the closing stages as they now look ahead to a maiden Tailteann Cup campaign.

Taking the positives from the performance, Limerick manager Mark Fitzgerald is hoping they “can build on” the display.

“Yeah look, I mean you couldn’t be more proud of the lads really and you couldn’t have asked for any more. We probably had chances to win it you know but look such is football you know. Their keeper made a brilliant save but listen, absolutely fantastic performance from our lads, they died with their boots on, every last one of them and let’s see can we can we build on that and take that into the Tailteann Cup.

“Absolutely, I mean if you can if you can replicate the level of intensity and the quality that we showed there which we always knew we had to be fair, and take that into the Tailteann Cup, see where that takes you.”

Keelan Sexton hit the net for the games only goal after three minutes and when Clare added to their lead shortly after, the writing looked on the wall for the Treaty men. However, the response was emphatic and five successive scores in the third quarter pulled them ahead for the first time.

Sexton levelled proceedings but Limerick would take the lead agains through Cillian Fahy. But a brace from UL’s Emmet McMahon steadied the Banner ship with Fitzgerald pointing to the side resilience in bouncing back from the early set back.

“I mean that has kind of been the tale of our season all along where we’ve been chasing games but we got ourselves back. We went in three down, Clare came back and probably went a couple up but our lads did really well to get a couple of scores back up and I think it was level when we made the goal chance so if that goes in you’re saying we’re three up. But that’s football. You saw some of the scores from both teams were fantastic, it was a brilliant brilliant game.”

One negative to come from the game was Iain Corbett’s absence in the second half with the Newcastle West man not returning from the dressing rooms.

After missing the final two rounds of the league, Corbett was named from the start but his manager explained the decision to take him out with his hamstring in trouble, outlining the importance of minding the centre back.

“He’s okay, he just felt the felt the hamstring fatigue a little bit, so look the advice was just not to let him go on because he probably would have ended up tearing it and we need him going forward.”

Limerick will now wait for the remainder of the provincial championship finalists to be confirmed before the draw for the Tailteann Cup is made. If they can replicate the Clare performance in that competition, it could prove to be a fruitfull summer for the Shannonsiders.

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