Banner flying on all fronts

Clare thoroughly deserved to win this game on a day when Hawk-Eye needed to pay a visit to its sponsors. They were hungry and economical with the ball and they did the damage in the first half.

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald clearly won the tactical battle. Limerick manager John Allen spoke on these pages during the week that they were well aware of Clare’s tactics and that they had their plans in place. But they never got to grips with the Banner’s support play and movement.

From the moment Colin Ryan hit a crossfield free to ‘sweeper’ Pat Donnellan, who ran almost 70 metres up the opposite side to support his free-taker for the first point, the Banner took the game to the opposition.