GAA
Limerick conclude the round robin phase of their Munster championship this weekend in Ennis.
A place in the Munster final will be guaranteed for Limerick if they can get a result against Clare in Cusack Park this Sunday.
A win for the Banner will ensure their progress to the All-Ireland series, something Limerick achieved last weekend.
A rivalry, riddled in history, Limerick were victorious in the most recent encounter but Clare have had the better of it in the past decade winning three of the past five meetings.
Ahead of Sunday’s meeting, recap each of those most recent encounters in full with so much to play for this weekend.
Clare 0-19 : 0-15 Limerick (All-Ireland Qualifier)
9 July 2016 in Thurles
Clare brought Limerick’s 2016 campaign and TJ Ryan’s reign as manager to an end with a dull 0-19 to 0-15 win in the third round of the qualifiers.
Clare opened the scoring but Limerick would dominate the first quarter as they lead 0-5 to 0-2.
But nine unanswered from the Banner prior to the short whistle would turn the contest completely as Limerick would never regain the lead, or get within two of Clare.
Limerick had the first two scores of the second half but three on the bounce had Clare 0-14 to 0-7 clear.
Limerick did cut the gap to a goal on a number of occasions but Clare had an answer each time and were deserving of the win.
Clare 3-17 : 2-16 Limerick (Munster Hurling Quarter-Final)
4 June 2017 in Thurles
John Kiely’s first Limerick game would ultimately end in defeat as they fell to Clare for the second consecutive year.
The concession of two early goals would prove costly as Clare raced into a 2-5 to 0-3 lead.
But, 1-5 on the trot for Kiely’s side saw them level after 25 minutes with David Dempsey getting the goal.
Five in a row gave Clare the ascendancy and the lead at the break as they lead 2-10 to 1-8.
Limerick rallied on the restart and were within three on 51 minutes when Clare got their third goal of the day.
Clare powered clear and Kyle Hayes’ late goal on his debut would only count as consolation for Limerick.
Clare 0-26 : 0-15 Limerick (Munster Hurling Championship
17 June 2018 at Ennis
Limerick missed out on a first Munster final since 2014 as they were overpowered by Clare in Ennis as the Banner moved into the Provincial decider with an eleven-point win.
After two wins and a draw from their first three games in the new round-robin Munster format, much was expected of Limerick who failed to fire against a determined Clare side in Ennis.
Clare had the first two scores of the day but after 20 there was just a point to separate the teams with Clare leading 0-5 to 0-4.
Both sides were reduced to 14-men after a half hour as Clare took a 0-13 to 0-9 lead into the dressing rooms.
Seamus Flanagan’s 36th minute effort had it back to 0-14 to 0-11 but this would be as good as it got for Kiely’s side as Clare outscored the visitors 0-12 to 0-4 down the home stretch to condemn Limerick to the preliminary quarter-final.
Just over two months later however, Limerick were crowned All-Ireland Champions.
Limerick 1-28 : 0-13 Clare (Munster Hurling Championship)
9 June 2019 in the Gaelic Grounds
Both sides headed into the game knowing that their season was on the line after previous results in Munster.
In the end, the defending All-Ireland champions flexed their muscles to secure an 18-point win and first over Clare in four attempts.
Limerick’s intent was clear from the start as they raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.
Limerick’s 0-15 to 0-7 lead at half time saw all of the six forwards getting on the scoresheet as well as William O’Donoghue from midfield and Declan Hannon at centre back.
Limerick were double scores, 0-22 to 0-11 to the good when Aaron Gillane got the games only goal on 59 minutes.
In the end the gap was 18 as Limerick put the Banner to the sword.
Limerick 0-36 : 1-23 Clare (Munster Hurling Championship)
25 October 2020 in Semple Stadium
Limerick kicked off the defence of their Munster championship behind closed doors with a comprehensive victory over Clare in Semple Stadium.
Seventeen points from Tony Kelly did little to deter the Limerick juggernaut as Gearoid Hegarty kicked off his HOTY campaign with five from play.
There was little to separate the sides in the opening half with each taking the lead at various stages.
Tom Morrissey gave Limerick their first three-point lead after 34 minutes but three unanswered from the Banner for a 0-15 stalemate at the interval.
Limerick hit the ground running on the restart and hit six on the bounce to pull clear.
Clare responded with a Ryan Taylor goal after 46 minutes and with twenty to play, there was only two between the sides.
But from here Limerick put on the afterburners to storm to victory.
Less than two months later they were crowned All-Ireland champions.
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