GAA
Limerick face Clare this Sunday in Cusack Park seeking a first win of the League season
Limerick and Clare lock horns this weekend with both sides looking to kick start their League season. Limerick are yet to find their first win in the league while Clare only have a win over Offaly to their name.
These teams met earlier this year with Limerick winning comfortably in the Munster Hurling Cup final. But since then, the tide has turned against John Kiely’s men who have look far from their best in recent weeks.
The Munster rivals will meet in the provincial round robin stage later this May and Sunday will provide the perfect shadow dance.
But ahead of that game, relive their last five League fixtures below.
Limerick 4-12 : 2-13 Clare (National Hurling League Division 2 Final)
2 May 2011 in Cusack Park
Limerick’s goal blitz was enough to stave off the hosts as they secured promotion back to the top tier at the first time of asking.
Kevin Downes was the hero of the day as the 19 year old found the net in the 67th minute to turn the tie in Limerick’s favour.
In their third successive league final, Clare were two clear approaching the half before Limerick hit 1-3 without reply to take the initiative, the goal coming from Seanie Tobin.
But a Conor McGrath goal had the Banner 2-12 to 2-8 in front with twenty to play.
Four minutes later, Leaving Cert student Declan Hannon found the net before Paul Browne levelled. Downes then struck late on to secure the win for Limerick.
However, as it panned out, Limerick were resigned to 1B of the League after it was restructured for 2012.
Limerick 1-13 : 2-24 Clare (National Hurling League)
25 February 2012 in the Gaelic Grounds
Clare avenged the defeat of the 2011 League final with a comprehensive fourteen point win in the Gaelic Grounds.
In John Allen’s first game in charge, Niall Moran had Limerick off to the perfect start as he goaled in the opening minutes.
Limerick were three clear after twenty minutes but a run of 1-7 without reply from the Banner turned the contest as they took a 1-12 to 1-8 lead into the break after Colin Ryan goaled.
By the time Limerick troubled the scoreboard in the second half, Clare were eight clear as Conor Allis eased the momentum slightly.
Conor McGrath’s goal pushed Clare 2-19 to 1-10 clear with the Banner man rounding out the scoring late on in the 14-point win.
Check out the highlights below:
Clare 1-19 : 0-18 Limerick (National Hurling League)
20 March 2016 in Cusack Park
Clare claimed promotion in this game five years ago with Barry Nash’s red proving costly on the day.
The Banner got off to the perfect start with John Conlon goaling inside a minute. Clare were 1-2 to the good when Graeme Mulcahy got Limerick off the mark.
But Limerick reduced the arrears significantly as the half went on, with just two between the sides when Nash saw red prior to the break.
A pair of Bobby Duggan frees had Clare 1-10 to 0-9 clear at the interval.
Clare moved seven in front but scores from Declan Hannon, Paul Browne and Diarmaid Byrnes kept Limerick within touching distance.
But TJ Ryan’s men couldn’t get close enough as Clare secured promotion.
Watch the full highlights below:
Limerick 4-21 : 0-33 Clare (AET) (National Hurling League quarter-final)
Limerick moved into the League semi-final after beating Clare in a free-taking shoot out after the sides finished level at 4-21 to 0-33 after extra-time.
The Banner dominated the opening half in the Gaelic Grounds, as they shot into a 0-11 to 0-2 lead. Aaron Gillane got the first gol of the game to drag Limerick back to life and at the half the deficit was back to 0-14 to 1-8.
Gillane had four frees on the restart to bring them within one and his second goal, had Limerick ahead for the first time.
Peter Duggan, who had 0-15 on the day, notched a couple to pull Clare ahead but Pat Ryan’s goal moved Limerick clear once more.
Duggan, again grabbed a couple to pull Clare ahead but Colin Ryan sent the game to extra-time with a sideline late on.
Tony Kelly and John Conlon score’s had Clare three ahead in ET but Diarmuid Byrne’s late free sent it to another period of extra-time.
There was nothing to separate the teams at the end of the second period of extra-time as it finished 4-21 to 0-33.
Thus, the game went to a free-taking competition from the 65′.
For Limerick, Aaron Gillane, Colin Ryan, Diarmaid Byrnes, David Reidy and Tom Morrissey all struck over their first efforts with Peter Duggan, Niall Deasy, David Reidy, Ian Galvin and Jamie Shanahan setting the tone for the Banner.
In sudden death, Duggan and Gillane exchanged scores before Deasy became the first man to miss on the 13th attempt.
Colin Ryan stepped up and made no mistake to send Limerick into the League semi-final after an absorbing contest.
Clare 2-11 : 1-14 Limerick (National Hurling League)
3 March 2019 in Cusack Park
The most recent League meeting between the sides, their 2020 League/Championship game aside, saw Limerick and Clare play out a draw in the snow.
Gearoid Hegarty secured the first major after ten minutes, bursting past the Clare rearguard.
Peter Duggan kept Clare in it with frees but scores from Colin Ryan, Paddy O’Loughlin and Peter Casey had Limerick 1-7 to 0-6 ahead at the half.
But Clare were level inside two minutes, Shane Golden finding the net. Two each from Aaron Gillane and Peter Casey restored Limerick’s lead.
A couple from Duggan had Clare back within one before he hit the net to give Clare the lead. Gillane and Duggan exchanged frees with the Patrickswell man levelling with the final score of the game in the fifth minute of injury time.
Aaron Gillane rattles the net and Limerick are cruising to victory over Clare – Watch the highlights on @RTE2 tonight from 9.30pm https://t.co/GsDoxXDnzj #GAA pic.twitter.com/vodiwv1ezA
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 9, 2019
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