Superb second half sees Limerick to 10 point win over Clare

Limerick are the 2020 League champions and are into the Munster Championship following a 0-36 to 1-23 win over Clare at Semple Stadium this evening.

The Treaty and Clare were level eight times throughout and at all square at 0-15 apiece at half time but a sensational second half saw John Kiely;s men to victory.

Limerick opened with the first two points of the game through a Gillane free and a Peter Casey effort from play.

Tony Kelly got the first of his 12 first half points to open Clare’s account, but efforts from Gillane (2) and Tom Morrissey had Limerick 0-5 to 0-2 up after eight minutes.

Another from Kelly and a fine effort from Cathal Malone got Clare to within before Kelly levelled the game for the first time with a free.

The same man put Clare in front for the first time with a brilliant score from play.

Gillane then levelled for Limerick on the quarter hour before Kelly intervened with two more for Brian Lohan’s men.

Gearoid Hegarty and Kyle Hayes got Limerick level for a fourth time and the sides went tit for tat until the half hour.

Limerick then briefly took control with two Gillane frees and a superb Morrissey effort from play but Clare finished the half strong to see it level for an eighth time at 0-15 apiece after a breathless opening 35 minutes.

John Kiely’s men made a blistering start to the second half with five points on the trot from Graeme Mulcahy, Hegarty, Hayes, Gillane and Cian Lynch that put them 0-20 to 0-15 to the good.

Two Kelly points brought them back into things before Ryan Taylor’s goal saw Limerick’s lead whittled back to one again.

Limerick responded superbly once more with another flurry of scores that saw them 0-27 to 1-19 ahead with 56 minutes on the clock.

Kiely’s men continued in that vein in the final quarter to earn a 0-32 to 1-22 victory that saw them league champions for a second year running and into the Munster Championship semi final.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Paddy O’Loughlin; Cian Lynch, William O’Donoghue; Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey; Graeme Mulcahy, Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey. 

Subs: Darragh O’Donovan for T Morrissey (59 mins), Seamus Flanagan for Casey (61 mins), Pat Ryan for Mulcahy (64 mins), David Reidy for O’Donoghue (64 mins),  Jerome Boylan for Nash (74 mins).

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Jack Browne, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes, Patrick O’Connor, Seadna Morey, Stephen O’Halloran; David McInerney, Cathal Malone; Diarmuid Ryan, David Reidy, David Fitzgerald; Ryan Taylor, Shane O’Donnell, Tony Kelly

Subs: Aron Shanagher for Fitzgerald (h-t), Aidan McCarthy for Reidy (57 mins), Domhnall McMahon for Hayes (64 mins), Aaron Cunningham for Taylor (72 mins).          

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

Limerick Scorers: Aaron Gillane 0-12 (10f), Gearoid Hegarty 0-5, Tom Morrissey 0-4, Peter Casey, Kyle Hayes and Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 each, Graeme Mulcahy 0-2 , Cian Lynch, Declan Hannon, Pat Ryan, Seamus Flanagan 0-1 each.

Peter Casey 0-3, Tom Morrissey 0-4, Gearoid Hegarty 0-5, Kyle Hayes 0-3, Graeme Mulcahy 0-2, Cian Lynch 0-1, Declan Hannon 0-1, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-1, Seamus Flanagan 0-1, 

Clare Scorers: Tony Kelly 0-17 (9f) Ryan Taylor 1-1, Cathal Malone and Diarmuid Ryan 0-2 each, Stephen O’Halloran 0-1