Lively Limerick canter to victory

AS Mike McNamara remarked after this League encounter, it was obvious which of these teams contested the All-Ireland final last year.

Predominant for much of the first half, McNamara’s side bowed out tamely in this third round NHL fixture at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

The first of the Limerick goals, from Sean O’Connor in the 32nd minute, gave them the boost they needed prior to the interval and the game turned their way after Ollie Moran set up Andrew O’Shaughnessy for their second, 10 minutes into the second half.

Acknowledging his Limerick side had been ‘slow to settle’, winning manager Richie Bennis alluded to the fact that Clare hadn’t managed to run up ‘a big score’ by the break with wind advantage. In fact, as a consequence of O’Connor’s goal, it amounted to a mere two points.

“We knew what was wrong and we knew what we had to do,’’ he said. “I think we utilised the breeze to good effect.’’

McNamara, recognising the reality of trying to build up the team and not having the benefit of players coming through from successful under-age teams, summed it up, saying: “We came up against experience... In general terms, that was the difference.

“We have a mountain to climb and we knew that starting off.’’

Missing four of the side which started against Kilkenny in the championship decider last September, Limerick were at their least competitive in the opening quarter and conceded six points without reply. Apart from Sean O’Connor hitting the upright and Ollie O’Connor having a shot from the rebound saved, they didn’t look capable of getting a score.

One of the main reasons for this was that Clare dominated midfield, mainly through the excellence of Brian O’Connell, and won a lot of possession at half-forward — with Jonathan Clancy the most successful. Inside, the only real threat came from newcomer Mark Flaherty’s free-taking, which was a testament to the good work of the Limerick full-back trio.

However, Flaherty contributed four wides to the visitors’ first half total of 10 (which extended to 16 by the final whistle).

With Niall Moran’s introduction helping to strength the attack, Limerick should have had the ball in the net shortly before he got their opening score in the 21st minute. That was when Mike Fitzgerald powered through on the right but bounced his shot off the ground and into Clare captain Frank Lohan’s hands. More positively, there were signs of a revival, evident for instance in Donal O’Grady’s prominence at midfield and the improvement from Andrew O’Shaughnessy — from whom a blocked shot made the opening for the goal.

With Clancy wasting a good chance of a Clare goal in the 29th minute, it meant their lead was down to two when the half time whistle sounded (0-7 to 1-2).

Based on how easily they lost their grip, it wasn’t surprising to see them struggle for scores for much of the second half. It led to the two central members of the attack being withdrawn, with little benefit accruing from Ger Arthur and Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy and the team overall losing its competitive edge. Tony Carmody showed the effects of his long lay-off and more disappointing for the management, Niall Gilligan looked at odds with his game at stages. Conversely, Colin Lynch played with typical spirit and promised a goal in the 47th minute until he was tackled.

Limerick quickly drew in confidence after O’Shaughnessy’s goal — which gave them the lead for the first time — with Mark Foley thundering into the game at wing-back and contributing two scores. And, Paudie O’Dwyer’s strong play at centre-back was complemented with two long-distance frees.

Clare made very little headway in attack, although with better luck, a shot hit on the run off the ground could have given Carmody a goal in the 60th minute. Instead, it went over the bar, just as happened to Limerick substitute Donie Ryan a few minutes earlier from close range.

The result was a foregone conclusion long before the finish, but Clare would have put a more respectable look on the scoreboard had not the hard-working Jonathan Clancy (put through by Lynch) failed to get in a shot at the solid Brian Murray in the closing minutes. *James McGrath applied the ‘advantage’ rule repeatedly, but spoiled his display by ignoring some obvious fouls and being caught away from the play a few times.

Scorers for Limerick: A. O’Shaughnessy 1-2 (0-1 free); S. O’Connor 1-1; M. Foley 0-2 (0-1 free); N. Moran 0-2; P. O’Dwyer 0-2 frees; B. Foley, O. Moran, D. O’Grady, M. Fitzgerald, D. Ryan and W. McNamara 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: M. Flaherty 0-3 frees; N. Gilligan 0-3 (0-1 free); T. Carmody and J. Clancy 0-2 each; D. Barrett and C. Lynch 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: B. Murray; D. Reale, S. Lucey, S. Hickey; Maurice O’Brien, P. O’Dwyer, M. Foley (capt.); D. O’Grady, Mike O’Brien; M. Fitzgerald, O. Moran, S. Lavin; A. O’Shaughnessy, S. O’Connor, P. Tobin.

Subs: M. O’Riordan for Maurice O’Brien (25); N. Moran for Lavin (26); D. Ryan for Tobin (54); W. McNamara for Mike O’Brien (54); B. Foley for Fitzgerald (64).

CLARE: P. Brennan; T. Keogh, F. Lohan, G. O’Grady; P. Donlon, T. Holland, J. McInerney; Vaughan; B. O’Connell, C. Lynch; J. Clancy, D. Barrett, T. Carmody; N. Gilligan, B. Nugent, M. Flaherty.

Subs: B. Bugler for McInerney (30); F. Lynch for Nugent (45); G. Arthur for Flaherty (62); M. Murphy for Barrett (63).

Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath).

*Attendance: 4,800.