O'Grady's Limerick cruise past Clare

Limerick 2-09 Clare 0-06, Ennis

Limerick looked the part under new manager Donal O’Grady as they beat Munster rivals Clare in their opening Allianz NHL game.

In selecting his team for his first Division two match, O’Grady recalled ten players who refused to play under previous boss Justin McCarthy last year.

Damien Reale, Stephen Lucey, Niall Moran and Andrew O'Shaughnessy were among the returning players for the Shannonsiders in this Ennis clash.

Clare, who lost last year’s Division two final to Wexford, paired Clonlara duo Nicky O’Connell and Domhnall O’Donovan at midfield and had Darach Honan, Fergal Lynch and Conor McGrath together in the full-forward line.

The keen rivalry between these two counties was evident in the opening exchanges, but goals from Richie McCarthy (penalty) and Graeme Mulcahy shot Limerick into a 2-04 to 0-01 half-time lead.

The visitors made their possession count in a bright start. McCarthy cracked home a fourth minute penalty, and went on to score 1-05 in all.

A pointed free from corner forward McGrath, ten minutes in, proved to be Clare’s only point in a disappointingly one-sided first half.

The Banner men improved after the break and got to within six points of Limerick, with 18 minutes remaining. Lynch, McGrath, Nicky O’Connell and James McInerney all pointed.

But Limerick produced a late rally to dash Clare’s hopes of a comeback, and goalkeeper Nicky Quaid, who played outfield last season, stopped Clare’s best chance of a goal from Honan on the hour mark.