Crossing the great Shannon divide

The clash of Clare and Limerick brings back great memories of 90s battles for Seanie McMahon and Ciarán Carey, writes Diarmuid O’Flynn.

IT WAS 1996, one minute to go, Limerick were trailing All-Ireland champions Clare by a point in the Munster championship semi-final when Barry Foley scored the equalising point from halfway. Davy Fitz, looking for the win, didn’t delay with the puckout, sent it long, deep into the Limerick half; centre-back Ciarán Carey soared, caught and took off on a 50m solo, chased hard by Fergal Hegarty. Into Clare territory and Ciarán dummied the strike off his left, lost Fergal; soloed on for another 15 yards or so, struck the winner off his right. Surely, one of the greatest points ever scored. But where was Seán McMahon, Clare centre-back?

Seán McMahon: I was on the field! What happened was, Ciarán won the ball and came straight up the field. I was marking Gary Kirby and he drifted to one side, opened up the centre for Ciarán; I had a choice — I could go to Ciarán, or go with Gary. If I went to take Ciarán he was going to pass the ball over my head to Kirby, a definite point for Limerick, so I went with Gary. Fergal Hegarty was chasing Ciarán and our tactic was that while there was someone with a man, leave him come rather than leave your own man. As Ciarán kept coming, Michael Halloran (Clare corner-back) was coming out behind me to take care of Kirby; what happened then was Fergal Hegarty slipped and fell, I went, but I was too far away at that stage. In hindsight I should have gone earlier.