Limerick and Clare share the spoils in Ennis

A MUCH-IMPROVED Limerick got their first points on the board in their League campaign with a 0-18 to 0-18 draw with Clare at Cusack Park – putting an end to John Kiely men’s run of three successive defeats.

Kiely’s charges were three points to the good at the half with the visitors taking advantage of Aaron Gillane’s free taking ability.

In what was first League meeting between the sides since their 2020 League/Championship game aside, it Limerick who got off to a flying start with Gillane, Diarmaid Byrnes, and Tom Morrissey putting Limerick three ahead in the opening five minutes.

Limerick led by 0-11 to 0-9 by the break with six of the Treaty men’s scores coming from Gillane.

Clare would have been ahead at half-time had David McInerney’s 20th minute goal not been disallowed.

A Robin Mounsey effort on goal two minutes after the restart gave Kiely’s cause for concern. But, much to the delight of Nickie Quaid, the Ruan man’s effort went narrowly wide.

A minute later, a Tony Kelly effort made it a one-point game, slotting over a superb point from out wide.

After Kelly levelled terms 20 minutes from time, both sides were level four more times.

With four minutes to go, Gillane saw red for his second bookable offence. Three minutes later, Clare were also reduced to 14 when Jack Browne also was sent to the sideline after two yellow cards.

Deep into stoppage time, David Reidy levelled the sides – 0-18 apiece – to earn Limerick a well-deserved point.

Limerick: Nicky Quaid; Barry Nash, Dan Morrissey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes (0-5, three frees), Declan Hannon (capt.), Colin Coughlan; William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty (0-1), Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey (0-2); Cathal O’Neill (0-1), Aaron Gillane (0-7, six frees), Adam English (0-1)

Subs used: Ronan Connolly for Hannon (30 mins), Brian O’Grady for O’Donovan (53 mins), Graeme Mulcahy for Hegarty (56 mins), Pat Ryan for Adam English (62 mins), David Reidy (0-1, one free) for Tom Morrissey (66 mins)

Clare: Eibhear Qulligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; David McInerney; John Conlon, Jack Browne; Shane Golden, David Fitzgerald (0-2); Cathal Malone (0-1), Tony Kelly (capt.), (0-11, eight frees), Robin Mounsey (0-1, one sideline); Shane Meehan (0-1), Ryan Taylor (0-1), Jason McCarthy (0-1)

Subs used: Patrick Crotty for Mounsey (52 mins), Peter Duggan for Golden (55 mins), Gary Cooney for Meehan (60 mins), Paddy Donnellan for McCarthy (64 mins)

Referee: Patrick Murhpy (Carlow)