Limerick minor hurlers fall to eight-point loss to Clare in Munster Championship

Limerick’s minor hurlers finished their Munster MHC campaign in disappointing fashion following a 2-20 to 0-18 defeat to Clare at the TUS Gaelic Grounds this evening.

Donal O’Grady’s charges were outplayed throughout the contest with Paul Rodgers and Ian O’Brien in devastating form for the Banner. The full forward duo accounted for 2-15 of Clare’s final total.

Despite the loss, Limerick still advance into the All-Ireland series but can’t now finish any higher than fourth and will play the third best team in Leinster as a result.

Cathal Dennehy opened the scoring for Limerick inside 15 seconds but it was the only time that the Treaty youngsters would lead in the game.

That advantage lasted just 31 seconds as John Barry responded for Clare. Dara Kennedy and Rodgers then saw Clare take control before Dennehy notched a second for Limerick.

Rory Hanly then levelled for the home side but strikes from Rodgers (3) and O’Brien saw Clare in firm control after 18 minutes, leading 0-7 to 0-4.

That trend continued towards the end of the half with O’Brien, Rodgers and Barry hitting the target again to give Clare an 0-11 to 0-5 advantage.

Limerick did have that lead down to four with 12 minutes gone in the second half but a goal and a point in quick succession from Rodgers finished comeback hopes.

O’Brien added a second goal for Clare in the closing stages to give them a comfortable victory by eight points.

Scorers – Limerick: Paul Murphy 0-6 (6f), Cathal Dennehy and Shane Waters (2f, 1’65) 0-4 each, Diarmuid Crowe 0-2 (1 f, 1 ’65), Rory Hanly and Rian Horgan 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Marcus Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell), Evan Ryan (South Liberties), Jackie Dwane (Kilmallock); Shane Carroll (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Michael Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), Danny Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh); Gavin Thompson (St Kierans), David O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh); Sean Óg Cahill-Hayes, Rory Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), Paul Murphy (Castletown-Ballyagran); Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Rian Horgan (Murroe-Boher).

Subs: Killian Begley (Mungret St Paul’s) for Óg Cahil-Hayes (h-t), Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Waters (39), Sean Fitzgerald (Murroe-Boher) for Carroll (42), Diarmuid Crowe (Doon) for Thompson (46), Alex Kearns (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Keeffe (58).