Limerick seal final slot as Clare pay penalty

Limerick 1-13 Clare 0-10

A draw would have done Limerick but the two teams went hell-for-leather in search of the win — the visitors showing enough craft to maintain their unbeaten run.

Limerick won the toss and captain Seanie Buckley — who would go on to play an inspirational game — opted to play with the wind. For the opening 18 minutes all went to plan for his side, as they led 0-5 to nil.

Clare, on the other hand, were having to work phenomenally hard to limit the damage until the break, but then, for reasons manager Maurice Horan struggled to explain, Limerick went into their shell.

“That’s not part of the plan,” Horan said afterwards. “An opposing team can get a bit of momentum going forward, and players get sucked in. I even saw Ian Ryan (corner forward) at one stage making a tackle in his own full-back line. But you have to track the runner — if your man goes you have to go with him. (But) Then you’ve lost your shape, you’re caught out of position, fellas are looking to let the ball in but there’s no-one inside. That’s the way the game is going, even in Division Four it’s all very tactical, all sweepers. Every team is trying something different to try to get out.”

This defensive retreat by Limerick played right into Clare’s hands and in the final quarter it was the home side dominating, four precious points scored into the teeth of that wind, midfielder and captain Gary Brennan leading by example, sub Michael O’Shea also showing up well. Seanie Buckley did add another Limerick point but their half-time lead (0-6 to 0-4) didn’t look like it would be enough.

Within seconds of the restart O’Shea had another Clare point and though Ryan and Buckley replied for Limerick, two more Clare points (Brennan and late call-up Ian McInerney) again had them within a point by the 43rd minute.

Clare were now perfectly poised and when referee James Henry awarded them a penalty after Brennan had been dragged down at the end of a storming run, they were very definitely in the driving-seat.

But stand-in Limerick ‘keeper Donal O’Sullivan denied David Tubridy.

It all left Clare manager, the vastly experienced Mick O’Dwyer, scratching his head. “We were in a great position at half-time, had worked very hard. Then you win a penalty that’s saved, the ‘keeper coming at least five yards off the line which is against the rules, and the (subsequent) 45 went wide; we had another great goal chance shortly after that, hit the crossbar, and the rebound is sent wide.

“In the meantime Limerick went up the field and got the points that mattered (sub Ian Corbett got two, Ryan another). Those 10 minutes made a huge difference, we had the winning of it but left it there. In fairness to Limerick they played well but had we scored the penalty we’d have gone two points ahead and that would have made a big difference at that stage. You can’t miss chances like that and hope to win.”

Clare did manage to get the next score, Brennan again, to come within a goal (0-11 to 0-8, 57m). Two minutes later came the really decisive score, however. The only goal of the game, and a fine score it was. With Clare having to commit bodies forward, a far more patient Limerick (in this half) began to find the gaps in what had been a watertight Clare defence. Ger Collins got in behind the last line, drew out Hayes, lobbed a ball invitingly for the lurking Ryan who was left with the simplest of palmed finishes to a gaping goal.

There was no way back for Clare after that and Limerick closed out the win and their campaign in decisive fashion to finish top of the division. “Tight margins,” agreed Horan. “But overall we’ve worked so hard during the course of the league that we felt we deserve to get promoted. We weren’t just going to come down here and lie down. We’ve had plenty things go against us over the course of the league but it’s Offaly now in the league final.”

As for O’Dwyer, crestfallen that Clare had come so close and failed? “Not at all, league is league and that’s it. It’s down to work now, a lot to do to prepare for the championship. That’s what this sport is all about!”

Scorers for Limerick: I Ryan 1-5 (3f); S Buckley 0-3; I Corbett 0-2; G Collins 0-2; E O’Connor 0-1.

Scorers for Clare: G Brennan 0-4 (1f); I McInerney 0-3 (0-1 45); M O’Shea 0-2; M McCarthy 0-1.

LIMERICK: D O’Sullivan; J McCarthy, A Lane, M O’Riordan; S Lavin, P Browne, P Ranahan; T Lee, B O’Brien; J Riordan, G Collins, S Buckley (c); I Ryan, D O’Connor, E O’Connor.

Sub: I Corbett (D O’Connor 35).

CLARE: Joe Hayes; S McNelis, C Dixon, E Coughlan; D Callinan, G Kelly, John Hayes; G Brennan (c), C O’Connor; S McGrath, D Tubridy, C Dunning; R Donnelly, I McInerney, M McCarthy.

Subs: Blood: M O’Shea (Donnelly 14/)

Referee: J Henry (Mayo).