Classy Clare inject life into promotion push with win over Limerick
Eoin Cleary of Clare. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Eoin Cleary and Mark McInerney put on a scoring clinic as Clare blew their way beyond Limerick to claim a third consecutive victory and breathe further life into their promotion tilt.
The duo accounted for 1-15 of the winning total, which included a trio of well taken orange flags. In the green corner, Limerick have now one mission; survival, as they head for the final two games with three points from their five starts.
Kieran Murphy’s side were firmly in control once they hit the front, and were never upset in their tilt towards the victory. It is a depleted Limerick squad but this was by far their poorest display of 2026.
A low ball into Tommie Childs spilled back towards Danny Neville, who used his pace. He centred for Cillian Fahy who took his time in finding the space to drill to the net for the game’s opening score after eight minutes.
Things were looking good for the hosts as Eliah Riordan curled over from play, before soon adding a now-trademark two-point free from outside the 45m line. Clare had earlier got off the mark when Brendy Rouine, burst through before taking a point when a goal looked likely.
Now 1-3 to a point behind, the Banner burst into life and would register the next 1-8 without reply.
McInerney’s easy looking stroke of the left foot landed a two-pointer before the same player was on hand to palm home from Dermot Coughlan’s burst through the centre.
A level game, Limerick were ponderous in attack and failed to really take the fight to Clare, with another two-pointer from McInerney, a single free and a point from Brian McNamara all helping to put the visitors in control of the two points.
Despite a Riordan orange flag, again from a free, Clare kicked the final two scores, a second from evergreen Eoin Cleary and a close-range effort from Alan Sweeney, up from the defensive quarters.
A double sub at half-time for the Treaty included the loss of talisman James Naughton, with Paul Maher and Colm McSweeney adding experience to a fragile looking defensive shape.
However, Cleary curled over within a minute and Clare were sprinting towards victory.
More good work from Ikem Ugwueru saw him free Sweeney for his second as the men in green couldn’t get a handle on Clare’s ability to attack from all angles.
Danny Neville became just the third Limerick scorer, thanks to a left footed effort on 48 minutes – but they still trailed by eight points – 1-14 to 1-6.
Cleary had other ideas, the 32-year-old thumped over a two-pointer despite two green jerseys closing him down as the third victory on the trot went from likely to certain.
The final quarter was a non-event as both benches found scores – and Clare waltzed to a precious third success.
Still short a lot of what made Limerick successful in 2025, they will need to find a new lease of life to take points against Westmeath and Fermanagh to retain their Division Three status.
E Riordan 0-5 (2 2pf); C Fahy 1-1; P Nash 0-3 (1f); S Cross 0-2 (1f); D Neville 0-1.
M McInerney 1-8 (3f, 2 tp); E Cleary 0-7 (1tp); A Sweeney 0-2; B Rouine, B McNamara, C Meaney, C Murray 0-1.
J Alfred; O Collins, D O’Doherty, D Buckley; O Moss, K Ryan, T McCarthy; S Clancy, T Childs; A Meade, C Fahy, E Riordan; D Neville, J Naughton, P Nash.
P Maher for Naughton (inj – half-time); C McSweeney for O’Doherty (half-time); J McCarthy for T Childs (46); J Dineen for Clancy (54); S Cross for Meade (57).
S Ryan; A Sweeney, R Lanigan, M Doherty; B Rouine, C Meaney, I Ugwueru; B McNamara, C Brennan; D Walsh, D Coughlan, J Vaughan; M McInerney, E Cleary, A Griffin.
C Murray for Griffin (54); S Griffin for Vaughan (57); D Stack for Walsh (64); F Kelleher for Meaney (64); M Nash for Brennan (67).
Eoin Morrisey (Waterford).
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