As it happened: Clare v Limerick, Munster hurling final
Gearóid Hegarty of Limerick scores his side's first goal past Clare goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Thanks for you company throughout the afternoon. Limerick flex again and make it a truly incredible six Munster titles on the trot.
Clare will prepare for for an All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford or Laois on July 22. Limerick can kick back before a last-four showdown in a month's time. They'll enjoy tonight, with two games between them and the five in a row.
Make sure to check out tomorrow's for all the analysis and reaction from Semple Stadium and Dalo's Hurling Show will, as always, be worth a listen.
Mark out of 10? John Coleman has his say on the Limerick player ratings after that dominant display.
John Kiely has been speaking to RTÉ and the Limerick boss says that may be 'our sixth, but it felt like our first'.
That might be the secret.
Limerick aren’t sick of Freed from Desire anyway. What a team. pic.twitter.com/Hkp5V8tHv0
— Maurice Brosnan (@m_brosnan) June 9, 2024
Declan Hannon is making victory speech from the stand in Thurles. This is how he got up those steps; read John Fogarty's on-the-whistle match report.
Limerick get the job done again. The Cranberries' Dreams goes up over Thurles, the pitch fills with supporters and the players celebrate a historic achievement; six on the trot in Munster. Some going.
Clare are not going away. We've into three minutes of added time and there's four points in it after admirable battling by Rodgers, who ultimately converted a free.
Kyle Hayes and Gearoid Hegarty step up to arrow great points and John Kiely's side are moving through the gears.
Clare 1-18 Limerick 1-22
Frustrating couple of minutes for Clare. They give away possession cheaply and they're punished by Diarmuid Byrnes, typically. Adam English adds another before Peter Duggan and Ian Galvin notch a couple of important Clare scores.
Huge let off! Tony Kelly finds Rodgers inside, he turns and shoots but it pings off the butt of the post. Clare are working admirably but that's a big moment.
Just like the round-robin game in Ennis, Gearoid Hegarty makes hay in the right corner. Eibhear Quilligan didn't know whether to come or go. - JF
Gearoid Hegarty takes advantage of a moment's hesitancy from Eibhear Quilligan and Limerick have made their move #RTEGAA
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 9, 2024
📺 Watch on @RTE2 and @RTEplayerhttps://t.co/AKAre5FHdN
📻 Commentary on @RTERadio1 https://t.co/2SRRKdgjzu
📱Updates https://t.co/DRIxh76wti pic.twitter.com/ymGZu8DCZj
Tony Kelly took a big hit from Will O'Donoghue out on the far sideline, which was adjudged as a foul. TK shakes off the effects eventually and Aidan McCarthy drags the free wide; Morrissey points for Limerick ominously.
Cian Lynch is replaced, meanwhile, after a quiet afternoon's work.
Gearóid Hegarty scores for Limerick!
Quilligan hesitated in the Clare goal and Hegarty pulled on it to find the net and put the All-Ireland champions in control.
Yellow card for a sheepish looking Conor Cleary, who's booked for a pull on the togs of Aaron Gillane. The Limerick man converts the free himself.
Moments earlier Aidan McCarthy was on the end of a great Clare move to get their first point of the half and his first from play of the afternoon.
We've an attendance of 45,148 in Thurles, John Fogarty informs us.
And another couple for Limerick and Clare are suffocating here. Cathal O'Neill swings over a great point after Morrissey punishes a Banner turnover.
The third quarter is usually, as we know, the championship minutes for Limerick over the past few years and they've started strongly with two quick points - Gillane and O'Brien on the mark.
No changes and we're underway for the second half!
Facing the breeze, Clare should return John Conlon to centre-back for the second half. They will need his and a roaming Tony Kelly's distribution to get the most of Shane O'Donnell inside. Save for the heavy foul by Gearóid Hegarty, O'Donnell had a quiet second quarter. - JF
We have a statement from Munster GAA PRO Dermot 'Weeshie' Lynch on that disruptive electricity issue:
"Due to a power outage at Semple Stadium shortly before throw in for today’s Munster Senior Hurling Final, and the consequent facilities failure, a decision was taken to postpone the game by 30 minutes while a crew worked to resolve the faults.
The decision to postpone was taken by event management and the Gardai on the grounds of public safety and public health.
Public transport services will be delayed accordingly to accommodate supporters after the game.
We apologise to patrons and to both teams for this delay."
Like Tony Kelly, Clare have played in pockets in the opening half but they have been productive cameos. The game was drawn level for a sixth time in the second minute of additional time when Peter Duggan reacted quickest by a blindingly good save by Nickie Quaid from a long-range Kelly free.
Quaid had also been called on in the 17th minute when he was able to get enough of his hurley on Aidan McCarthy’s shot and Diarmaid Byrnes cleared the ball away from danger.
Limerick didn’t threaten Clare’s goal half as much but they were the better team in general play over the half. Scoring three points, Diarmaid Byrnes was back in the form that had shortlisted him for hurler of the year in 2023 having won the award the season previous and Cian Lynch was knitting together moves.
After a first quarter when the sides were tied five times, Limerick’s intensity began to tell. They went two up in the 21st minute and branched three ahead in the 25th minute when Aaron Gillane converted a point over his shoulder under the Ryan Stand.
Against the wind, they were far more efficient than Clare and restored a three-point advantage on the half-hour mark when Gillane caught brilliantly over Conor Cleary and supplied David Reidy.
Gillane was getting the better of Cleary, winning a free off him two minutes later that he put wide. Limerick’s cushion grew to four when Shane O’Brien registered his first point but Clare’s finish of 1-1, David Fitzgerald sending over his third score before Duggan’s major, reeled them in going into the break.
Limerick 0-13 Clare 1-10
GOAL FOR CLARE!
That's huge! Peter Duggan sweeps home from close range, despite another Quaid save initially, and the sides head in all level.
Limerick 0-13 Clare 0-10
We're going to have two minutes of added time and it's a one-score game. McCarthy pings a free off the upright after Shane O'Brien scores his first.
Couple of quick-fire Limerick scores and they try to turn the screw before the break. First, Diarmuid Byrnes adds a point to his tally before Gillane loses the hurley but wins the ball ahead of Cleary and plays David Reidy in with a handpass; he fires over.
John Fogarty's analysis: Limerick's squeeze on Clare is huge right now. Shane O'Donnell hasn't touched the ball in over 15 minutes. Aaron Gillane now edging the battle against Conor Cleary.
Declan Hannon lofts over a good point before the sides trade points. Gillane stretches the Limerick lead before Fitzgerald pegs them back. It's a mile a minute now.
Limerick briefly stretch their lead out to three with a brilliant Aaron Gillane point but Clare have hit back immediately #RTEGAA
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 9, 2024
📺 Watch on @RTE2 and @RTEplayerhttps://t.co/AKAre5FHdN
📻 Commentary on @RTERadio1 https://t.co/2SRRKdgjzu
📱Updates https://t.co/DRIxh76wti pic.twitter.com/8oFcxkvgxW
Kyle Hayes gets a gallop going and swings over a great point on the run to get the Limerick crowd going and put his side a couple of points up again.
Great save from Nickie Quaid! Aidan McCarthy tries to squeeze a shot in at the near post but the Treaty netminder gets his hurley on it and Diarmuid Byrnes is there to sweep it away under pressure.
A big goal chance for Clare but Nickie Quaid is equal to Aidan McCarthy's effort #RTEGAA
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 9, 2024
📺 Watch on @RTE2 and @RTEplayerhttps://t.co/AKAre5FHdN
📻 Commentary on @RTERadio1 https://t.co/2SRRKdgjzu
📱Updates https://t.co/DRIxh76wti pic.twitter.com/cEmq9sNVWZ
As Aidan McCarthy lines up a free, Brian Lohan and John Kiely go 'nose to nose' in a fiery exchange on the line. McCarthy nails the free before Limerick tack on a couple of points themselves and the sides are level.
An obvious free for Cian Lynch there ignored by Colm Lyons after a deserving yellow card for Mike Casey. John Conlon was lucky. JF
Diarmuid Byrnes scuds a free over the bar before Shane O'Donnell brings down an old school Conor Leen clearance and knocks over his first free. As I type, Aaron Gillane concerts a free he earned himself.
John Fogarty at Semple Stadium sends this info on the match-ups from his good vantage point:
John Conlon's positioning on Tom Morrissey on the wing is interesting
Mike Casey v Shane O'Donnell
Dan Morrissey v Aidan McCarthy
Barry Nash v Tony Kelly
Diarmaid Byrnes v Peter Duggan
Declan Hannon v Mark Rodgers
Kyle Hayes v David Fitzgerald
Cian Lynch v Cathal Malone
Darragh Lohan v Will O'Donoghue
Adam Hogan v Shane O'Brien
Conor Cleary v Aaron Gillane
Conor Leen v David Reidy
David McInerney v Gearóid Hegarty
Diarmuid Ryan v Cathal O'Neill
John Conlon v Tom Morrissey
First blood to the Treaty as David Reidy points before McCarthy converts an easier free to get them going. And David Fitzgerald lofts a good point to get the Banner in front.
No score so far as the players shake off any ringrust,
The first free of the day saw Aidan McCarthy draw his effort wide after Peter Duggan was fouled.
Clare won the toss and will play with the wind. Strange that the players stood for attention in the parade. - JF
Marty Morrissey gave us an intro featuring the likes of The Cranberries, The Rubberbandits, the D'Unbelievables and Shannon Airport. Now, thank god, Colm Lyons is about to get us going at last!
Here we go. The teams are parading around the field now and were moments away from this game getting going.
Clare have waited 26 years and an extra half hour... can they reclaim the Munster title?
And now "Thunderstruck" blaring out on the PA system. Very on the nose. - JF
In his match programme notes, Munster chairman Ger Ryan has called for a review of the split season: "While I retain a positive view of the split season overall, it is time to reflect on the learnings from our experience of it to date. It has been a radical change and I have no doubt there are some improvements and changes we can make. We should aim to do so before the 2025 championship."
John Fogarty reports from Semple Stadium:
"Power restored in Thurles. An unusual day made more eerie by the unseasonable weather. Limerick have 30 minutes more to consider Tony Kelly is starting. Imagine they have been preparing for that eventuality, mind. Clare's dummy team foiled by electricity. There's a first."
The teams have reemerged and a 4.30pm throw-in is confirmed.
Fair dues to the RTÉ team who are filling time expertly here. Marty Morrissey talks over scenes from around the stadium with our own Anthony Daly in the stands and queues snaking towards the now-open tuck shops again.
So how will this weird situation play out on the pitch once we -- fingers crossed -- get going? 'Situational leadership' is what's required now, Liam Sheedy says with the coaches having their work cut out inside those dressingrooms. Donál Óg Cusack reckons these experienced hurlers will take it all in their stride.
The band are on the pitch to entertain the crowd in the meantime.
Dermot Lynch from the Munster Council explains this situation: "Unfortunately a series power outage in the area of Thurles that has affected the stadium as well. We made the decision in the interest of health and safety to put the game back by 30 minutes to make sure everyone gets into the ground safely.
"Both county boards have been informed. With the help of God, ESB are in touch to make sure we get things back up and running soon.
"There are people working very hard behind the scenes and hopefully it will be back up and running in 20/25 minutes."
This is a new one...
We're hearing there'll be a 30-minute delay to throw-in!
John Fogarty reports the power is still off at Semple Stadium, meaning no Hawkeye, and also possibly no juice in our correspondent's laptop before too long.
RTÉ coverage is secure due to the station's own backup power supply but the stadium shops are closed.
More big news, meanwhile: Tony Kelly starts in place of David Reidy and Conor Leen is in for Rory Hayes.
John Kiely is interviewed by Damien Lawlor on the RTÉ coverage: "We need to get off to a better start because it's not going to stack up forever. So yeah, better start and more consistent over the course of the game."
This might feature in a few match report intros later on; the power is gone at Semple Stadium, we're told.
The PA has crackled back to life in the past few moments and hopefully, someone's put a 50p piece in the meter.
We'll keep abreast of any late changes but these are the teams as named:
: E. Quilligan; A. Hogan, C. Cleary (c), R. Hayes; D. Ryan, J. Conlon, D. McInerney; D. Lohan, D. Fitzgerald; C. Malone, M. Rodgers, P. Duggan; A. McCarthy, S. O'Donnell, D. Reidy. Subs: C. Broderick, C. Leen, P. Flanagan, S. Morey, I. Galvin, P. Donnellan, T. Kelly, A. Shanagher, S. Meehan, R. Mounsey, C. Galvin.
N. Quaid, M. Casey, D. Morrissey, B. Nash; D. Byrnes, D. Hannon (c), K. Hayes; W. O’Donoghue, C. O’Neill; G. Hegarty, D. Reidy, T. Morrissey; A. Gillane, S. O’Brien, C. Lynch. Subs: J. Gillane, C. Boylan, C. Coughlan, A. English, R. English, G. Mulcahy, B. Murphy, A. O’Connor, F. O’Connor, D. Ó Dalaigh, D. O’Donovan.
Some pre-game viewing? Catch up on the hugely enjoyable, big-game preview from the Anthony Daly, Liam Sheedy, TJ Ryan, Seanie McGrath and Mark Landers.
Gatti-Ward, Bird-Magic, The Godfather.
Limerick and Clare meet in the Munster final to complete the trilogy in Thurles. We're in for another epic, no doubt
We'll be here for the afternoon to track the action and have input from the Examiner Sport team at Semple Stadium and elsewhere.
Email your pre-game predictions and thoughts throughout the game to adrian.russell@examiner.ie
Can Clare dethrone Limerick at last in the provincial decider? Or will Limerick make it an historic six Munster titles in a row?
Join us for live coverage of the Semple Stadium showdown (throw-in 4pm.)
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