Limerick progress in U25 Championship

The Limerick U25 squad defeated Clare in the inaugural Munster U25 Competition to set up a Munster final clash against Waterford. Limerick progressed to the final with a 4-17 to 0-16 win in the curtain raiser for the Munster Championship Senior Semi Final.

Limerick’s panel consisted of the current extended U21 panel minus the nine U21 players that are part of the senior squad. Na Piarsaigh’s Ronan Lynch, who is a part of Kiely’s squad was a late introduction to the side. Clare on the other hand had six players not eligible for U21 and also 4 members of the senior panel.

After 10 minutes, Clare held a 0-4 to 0-2 lead with Robbie Hanley and Kyle Dillon getting on the scoresheet for the Treaty men. That was to be as good as it got for the Clare side as Thomas Grimes levelled the scores in the 18th minute, 0-5 a piece.

A minute later, Paudie Ahern would get his first goal of the game with an impressive finish. Limerick took a 1-10 to 0-8 lead into the break with them.

Limerick took control in the opening minutes of the second period and Ahern’s second goal had them ahead 2-14 to 0-9 with 20 minutes remaining.

Ahern seaed his hat trick minutes later, before Mike Mackey got on the score sheet to leave Limerick cruising to the win 4-14 to 0-10 with quarter of an hour remaining.

SCORERS: Limerick: Paudie Ahern 3-0, Kyle Dillon 0-7 (6frees), Mikey Mackey 1-2, Barry Myurphy 0-3, Robbie Hanley, Thomas Grimes, Ronan Lynch (free), Lorcan Lyons and Oisin O’Reilly 0-1 each. Clare: Shane McGrath 0-11 (9frees), David Conroy 0-3, Kevin Hehir and Michael O’Neill 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Eoghan McNamara (Doon); Conor McSweeney (South Liberties), Daragh Fanning (Pallasgreen), Dan Joy (Kilmallock); Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh), Josh Adams (Ballybrown), Thomas Grimes, captain (Na Piarsaigh); Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen), Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock); Mikey Mackey (Adare), Barry Murphy (Doon), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon); Kyle Dillon (Bruff), Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock), Paudie Ahern (Killeedy). Subs: Luke Doran (Ballybrown) for Dan Joy (46mins), Jack Cagney (Granagh-Ballingarry) for Lorcan Lyons (48mins), Cian O’Brien (Mungret St Pauls) for Thomas Grimes (51mins), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen) for Seamus Flanagan (51mins), Eoin Ryan (Adare) for Paudie Ahern (54mins).

CLARE: Daniel Vaughan (Tulla); Ciaran Cooney (O’Callaghan Mills), Eoin Quirke (Whitegate), Conor O’Halloran (Eire Og); Ben O’Gorman (Wolfe Tones), Dara Walsh (Eire Og), Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones); Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley), David Conroy (St Josephs Doora-Barefield); Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley), Kevin Hehir (Inagh Kilnamona), Oisin Donnellan (Feakle); Brian Corry (Sixmilebridge), Martin Daly (Feakle), Shane McGrath (Feakle). Subs: Billy Connors (Cratloe) for Oisin Donnellan (h-t), Michael Moloney (Eire Og) for Dara Walsh (35mins), Cian Nolan (Smith O’Briens) for Conor O’Halloran (38mins), Pauric O’Loughlin (Clonlara) for Martin Daly (43mins), Kevin McCafferty (Wolfe Tones) for Brian Corry (46mins).