Clare win promotion on day that featured more bark than bite

Clare 1-19 Limerick 0-18: All gory, no glory in Ennis as a wretch of a Division 1B “final” saw Clare ascend to Division 1A 12 months after they fell out of it, leaving Limerick marooned in the second tier of the competition for a seventh season.

The counties hit an appalling total of 29 wides (Clare 19, Limerick 10) on an afternoon when the 8,847 attendance were left in no doubt that Division 1B is a form of purgatory for this pair. Barry Nash was the one man sent off but he could have been joined by another two or three as the free count reached embarrassing level in a tie that featured more bark than bite.

Limerick remain mired much to the chagrin of the county board who were counting on the jump to Division 1A to aid their financial situation. It would also have been a boon for TJ Ryan having had to make do without his Na Piarsaigh players this last while. Both officials and Ryan made it clear promotion was a priority.