Gutsy Clare get better of Limerick in tasty championship appetiser

Limerick had Diarmaid Byrnes sent off during the second half. 

CRUCIAL: David Reidy of Clare shoots to score his side's goal against Limerick. The score undid much of Limerick's good work at the beginning of the second half. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

AHL Division 1A: Limerick 0-21 Clare 1-21

A first win at the fourth time of asking for All-Ireland champions Clare in this Division 1A campaign but a gutsy and notable one at that.

TUS Gaelic Grounds holds no fear for The Banner and they demonstrated they won’t be going down at least without fighting. In front of a healthy 16,789 crowd, they were the more clinical team as Limerick were made to pay for missing a handful of goal opportunities.

When Limerick coursed their way into the second half with the first four points to go one up, there was a sense of inevitability. However, Clare thought otherwise. Their David Reidy undid a lot of their good work. Mark Rodgers was being fouled by Barry Nash but still had the strength to kick the ball out to Reidy for his 40th minute goal.

Limerick continued to blow goal openings. A minute later, Aaron Gillane’s low shot from an angle was smothered by Eibhear Quilligan and a 50th minute strike, Gillane’s fourth goal effort, was blocked.

Substitute Tom Morrissey also had a speculative attempt prevented in the 61st minute by which time Clare were six points to the good. Tony Kelly was having a ding-dong battle with Cian Lynch in the middle but was coming on top in the scoring battle.

Clare’s backs were winning almost all their personal battles and when Diarmaid Byrnes was shown a straight red card for a wild pull in the 64th minute the fizz went out of the home side’s effort.

With the gusts at their backs, Clare would have been disappointed not to have an advantage at half-time. The question was would three-points, 0-12 to 0-9, be enough of a cushion. As it turned out, the wind died and Limerick’s expected gain was lost.

Drafted in as late starters, Seán Rynne and Jack O’Neill were their best performers in the first half. They produced five points between them, two for Rynne and three for O’Neill, and were giving the Limerick half-back line their fill of it.

David Fitzgerald also scored two points in quick succession. They formed half of a flurry of unanswered scores Clare produced to go four points up on the half-hour mark.

Aaron Gillane’s frees were keeping Limerick in touch as they tackled the conditions although they came the closest to finding the net in the opening period. Shane O’Brien’s shot just seconds into the game was kept out by Quilligan. In the 10th minute, Gillane swung one-handed on the sliotar only for it to ping back off the crossbar.

The sides were level four times prior to Clare’s purple patch in the second quarter. Gillane scored five of Limerick’s first seven points but he couldn’t find the net. A story that would continue into the second half.

Scorers for Limerick: A. Gillane (0-8, 6 frees); D. Reidy, S. O’Brien, B. Nash, D. Byrnes (1 65), A. O’Connor, J. Gillane (frees) (0-2 each); C. Lynch (0-1).

Scorers for Clare: A. McCarthy (0-7, 6 frees); J. O’Neill, T. Kelly, S. Rynne (0-3 each); D. Reidy (1-0); D. Fitzgerald (0-2); C. Malone, C. Galvin, M. Rodgers (0-1 each).

LIMERICK: J. Gillane; M. Casey, B. Murphy, B. Nash; D. Byrnes, E. Hurley, C. Coughlan; A. English, C. Lynch (c); C. O’Neill, D. Reidy, E. Stokes; S. Flanagan, A. Gillane, S. O’Brien.

Subs for Limerick: A. O’Connor for A. English (35-ht); A. O’Connor for E. Stokes (h-t); P O’Donovan for S. Flanagan (51); D. Ó Dalaigh for S.

O’Brien, V. Harrington for B. Nash (both 66).

Red card: D. Byrnes (straight, 64).

CLARE: E. Quilligan; C. Leen, D. Lohan, A. Hogan; C. Galvin, J. Conlon, C. Malone; T. Kelly (c), R. Taylor; D. Fitzgerald, J. O’Neill, S. Rynne; D. Reidy, M. Rodgers, A. McCarthy.

Subs for Clare: S. Meehan for D. Reidy (56); P. Crotty for A. McCarthy (68); A. Shanagher for D. Fitzgerald (70).

Referee: T. Walsh (Waterford)