Micheal Houlihan leads the way as Limerick prove too good for Clare in National Hurling League

The third quarter belonged to Limerick as they grabbed eight of the first nine scores after the resumption. Hayes was off the mark within a minute of the restart and then cancelled out Aidan McCarthy’s free for his third.

Limerick laid out a statement of intent in the TUS Gaelic Grounds with a dominant win over Clare in the second round of the National Hurling League.

John Kiely’s men were 1-27 to 2-18 winners with Micheal Houlihan bagging 0-12 for the All-Ireland champions.

Cian Lynch, Kyle Hayes, Peter Casey and Nickie Quaid were in All-Star form on their seasonal debuts with Hayes hitting 0-3 from wing back alone.

Donnacha O’Dalaigh rounded out the scoring with Limerick’s only goal after 66 minutes, Adam English soloing the length of the field before squaring to the Monaleen man who made no mistake.

Clare finished strongly to put a gloss on the scoreline but it was all Limerick from start to finish.

11 February 2023; Shane O’Brien of Limerick in action against Adam Hogan of Clare during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Limerick and Clare at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

It was 0-16 to 1-7 in Limerick’s favour at the break as Houlihan rounded out the scoring with his eighth of the evening. Limerick also had five wides in the first half compared to Clare’s brace.

The Kilmallock native started the scoring in the TUS Gaelic Grounds after 24 seconds and was quickly followed by teammates Cian Lynch and Kyle Hayes in the scoring stakes.

Aidan McCarthy offered a brief reply with his first free of the afternoon with the Inagh Kilnamona man finishing the half with five, all coming from placed balls.

Three unanswered Limerick scores followed after McCarthy’s effort, Houlihan, Gearoid Hegarty and Peter Casey finding the target to make it 0-6 to 0-1 inside seven minutes.

Limerick were six clear by the time Clare had their opening score from play, but it would prove to be the only goal of the half, Peter Duggan flicking a delightful ball into the path of Ian Galvin who did just enough to beat Nickie Quaid in the Limerick net.

David Fitzgerald then got off the mark for the Banner but Limerick’s response came from Adam English and Houlihan (2). Fitzgerald’s effort was their final score from play in a half where they struggled up front.

McCarthy had a pair of frees either side of a Limerick substitution, Aaron Costelloe replacing Fergal O’Connor after a nasty collision, to reduce the deficit to four.

But Casey and Houlihan pointed in additional time to ensure Limerick matched their tally of 0-16 plundered over in the first half in Pairc Ui Chaoimh last weekend.

The third quarter belonged to Limerick as they grabbed eight of the first nine scores after the resumption. Hayes was off the mark within a minute of the restart and then cancelled out Aidan McCarthy’s free for his third.

Peter Casey and Shane O’Brien both bagged doubles in this time while Houlihan brought his tally up to 0-12 with four frees. That had it at 0-24 to 1-8 with Clare offering little to no threat at the other end.

McCarthy did get one from play on 54 minutes but Tom Morrissey replied with a quickfire double on his introduction to move Limerick fourteen clear.

Cian Lynch’s full return was brought to an end on 61 minutes as the Patrickswell man was replaced by Graeme Mulcahy to a rapturous reception.

Clare’s David Reidy had three unanswered scores from the bench before O’Dalaigh’s three-pointer. Clare replied with one of their own, Reidy finishing to the net.

But it was too little too late for the Banner as Limerick picked up a first league win of 2023.

Scorers for Limerick: Micheal Houlihan (0-12, 9f), Donnacha O’Dalaigh (1-0), Kyle Hayes and Peter Casey (both 0-3), Tom Morrissey, Shane O’Brien, Gearoid Hegarty (all 0-2), Cian Lynch, Ciaran Barry, Adam English (all 0-1)

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Richie English, Fergal O’Connor; Ciaran Barry, Dan Morrissey, Kyle Hayes; Darragh O’Donovan, David Reidy; Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Micheal Houlihan; Shane O’Brien, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey.

Subs: Adam English for Reidy (9), Aaron Costelloe for O’Connor (29), Donnacha O’Dalaigh for O’Brien (49), Tom Morriseey for Hegarty (52), Graeme Mulcahy for Lynch (61), Jimmy Quilty for Hayes (66).

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