Limerick v Clare | Munster Final History 

A novel final pairing awaits in the Munster Senior Hurling Final this Sunday as neighbours Limerick and Clare square off for the inaugural Mick Mackey Cup.

This will be just the seventh meeting of the teams in the decider in the 135th year of the Munster championship.

The Thurles encounter will also be the first final contest between the pair since 1995 when Clare dethroned the Treaty men.

That win brought an end to Clare’s 63-year wait for provincial honours as they claimed a comprehensive 1-17 to 0-11 win in this weekend’s venue.

6 July 1997; Clare’s captain Anthony Daly lifts the cup after the GAA Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final match between Clare and Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

The victory was Clare’s first over Limerick in the Munster final at the sixth attempt. The Ger Loughnane managed side went on to win two more provincial titles over the next three years with their latest triumph coming in 1998.

Limerick will be hopeful of avenging that defeat this weekend and continue a strong record against the Banner on provincial final day. The first meeting of the pair came all the way back 1918 as Limerick claimed a 11-3 to 1-2 win in Thurles. That remains a record number of goals scored the Munster final.

Their next meeting in the decider came in 1955 as Limerick secured a first provincial title in fifteen years at the Banner’s expense with a 2-15 to 2-6 win in the Gaelic Grounds.

Nineteen years later, the reigning All-Ireland and Munster champions Limerick proved too strong for Clare in a 6-14 to 3-9 victory. Limerick maintained that 100% record against their neighbours in 1981, with the four point win the closest contest between the pair in a final up to that date.

The Treaty’s side most recent Munster triumph against Clare came in 1994 when they inflicted a second successive final loss on the Banner with a 0-25 to 2-10 result in Thurles.

16 June 1996; Ciaran Carey of Limerick scores the winning point during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Limerick and Clare at Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile

Twelve months later, Clare reversed the trend but were dethroned by Limerick in the 1996 Munster semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds.

Can Clare make it two on the bounce in finals against the Shannonsiders or will Limerick overcome their neighbours once more? We will know all this Sunday.

Social Sharing

Posted in

Fitzgerald magic helps Monaleen to Premier U20 hurling title

Monaleen are champions once again with the clubs' Premier U20 hurlers beating Bruff by 0-15 to 1-11 in ...
Read More

Mungret St. Paul’s Ladies make history with Midleton win

Mungret St. Paul's are celebrating this Saturday evening. The ever improving club have now annexed their first Munster ...
Read More

Football glory for Adare, Rathkeale, Cappagh and St. Kieran’s

There was a quartet of Limerick football titles handed out over the weekend. Adare claimed a fourth ever ...
Read More

Round-up: No Munster joy for Doon, Newcastle West or Feenagh Kilmeedy

By Tom Clancy There was a trio of narrow defeats for Limerick's three representatives in the quarter-finals of ...
Read More

Limerick scoop four All-Stars at 2024 PWC Awards

Munster champions Limerick claimed another quartet of All-Star awards on Friday evening, as Nickie Quaid, Dan Morrissey, Kyle ...
Read More

Doon finally reach the promised land with one-point win over Na Piarsaigh

Doon are Limerick SHC champions for the first time following a 0-16 to 2-9 victory over Na Piarsaigh ...
Read More

Goals fire Newcastle West to Premier Intermediate glory

Newcastle West will be playing senior hurling next year after they earned a 2-12 to 1-11 win over ...
Read More

Glory Days – Hurling titles for Croagh-Kilfinny, Feenagh-Kilmeedy and Monaleen

There was a trio of exciting and close hurling finals played on Saturday, with each piece of silverware ...
Read More