GAA
Limerick and Clare meet in the Munster final for the first time since 1995 this weekend.
Limerick face Clare this weekend in Thurles in the Munster Senior Hurling Final in a game that is set to live up to the hype as the sides have played out draws in each of their last two encounters this year.
The public tickets sold out in 11 minutes for the, with fans anticipating a fantastic game for arguably the two best teams in the country at the moment.
Limerick are chasing a four-in-a-row of Munster titles, seeking to emulate the team of the 1930’s while Clare’s last provincial win came in 1995.
It is the fourth meeting of the sides this year with the latter pair ending in draws in Ennis. Indeed, the sides have also split the last five championship meetings with two wins apiece to go with last month’s stalemate.
And ahead of Sunday’s Munster Final, we revisit each of their last five championship clashes.
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
With both sides season’s at stake after a couple of poor results for both teams in the round robin, the defending All-Ireland champions flexed their muscles to secure an 18-point win and first over Clare in four attempts.
Limerick imposed their dominance right from the start racing into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.
Heading into half time the Treaty men stretched their lead out to eight points with all of their forwards on the scoresheet and William O’Donoghue and Declan Hannon adding some from further out the field.
Limerick’s defence was imperious on the day and when Aaron Gillane struck the back of the net on the hour mark, their lead was out to14.
In the end, the margin was 1-28 to 0-13 in Limerick’s favour as Clare bowed out of the championship.
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.
It was tit for tat at the beginning with both sides trading scores and each assuming the lead at various stages.
Tom Morrissey put Limerick three points up before the Banner men struck three more back leaving the score level at half time with 0-15 apiece.
Limerick hit the ground running on the restart and shot over 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.
Limerick 1-21 : 0-24 Clare (Munster Hurling Championship)
May 15th 2022 in Ennis
Limerick maintained their unbeaten record in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship after a 1-21 to 0-24 draw with Clare that booked both sides place in the provincial final.
The two teams traded scores throughout the game with Kyle Hayes finding the back of the net on the fifteen minute mark.
Tony Kelly, hit the last of his 16 points just ten minutes into the second half but the teams were still level when Gearoid Hegarty was controversially sent off with ten to play.
But with a man down, Diarmuid Byrnes came to the teams rescue with his ninth point to draw the sides level for the 14th time in the game with time in the red.
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