Clare finish strong against Limerick to make it two wins out of two in Munster U20 Hurling championship

Clare’s Jamie Moylan and Jack Mescal celebrate. Pic: ©INPHO/Ken Sutton.

Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship: Clare 0-18 Limerick 0-15

Clare’s fall-rise-repeat script narrative may be perilous but it certainly reaped rewards for the second successive tie in O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge.

Only a fortnight earlier, they completed a dramatic late turnaround and it was almost identical this time around as trailing neighbours Limerick by the minimum by the 56th minute, the home side unearthed another rousing finish to fire the last four points and maintain their perfect start.

Back-to-back wins for the Banner have hardly been flawless but crucially their perseverance is admirable as despite been level on 15 occasions, the hosts shaded the Shannonside derby honours to leave Limerick on the brink of an early provincial exit.

Free-takers Fred Hegarty and Hugh Flanagan were key protagonists throughout in a seesaw battle that saw the lead change hands on ten occasions as neither side could put any semblance of daylight between them.

That was until Fred Hegarty (2), substitute Paul Rodgers and the inspirational Jamie Moylan popped up with a flurry of late points to finally clinch victory.

Daniel Costello, Ronan Kilroy, captain Eoghan Gunning, Robert Loftus and substitute Graham Ball were others to impress while Hugh Flanagan, Sean Duff, Matthew Fitzgerald and Eamon Richardson performed best for the visitors.

While the sides traded points throughout, Limerick had the edge on goal sightings, with Robert Loftus hooking Robert O’Farrell as he was about to pull the trigger in the 18th minute while later in the half the same player forced a save out of home goalkeeper Mark Sheedy with a batted effort at 0-9 to 0-9 by the break.

Eoin Brosnan’s pull was also repelled by the Sixmilebridge stopper on the resumption while Clare’s only real opportunity fell to Paul Rodgers and Thomas O’Connor in quick succession but both attempts would be blocked by a miserly Limerick last line, Hugh Flanagan’s ninth points in the 53rd minute looked to have given Limerick the decisive edge but a foul on Harry Doherty allowed Fred Hegarty to regain full parity before doubling his bounty in the final minute to put Clare into the ascendency for the first time in twenty minutes at 0-16 to 0-15.

Invariably Limerick would have answered immediately but this time replacement Paul Rodgers arrived over from halfway before a defensive surge through Eoghan Gunning and Graham Ball teed up Jamie Moylan for the clinching Clare score to put one foot in the final three with two games to spare.

Scorers for Clare: F Hegarty 0-10 (7f); Jamie Moylan 0-2; Darren Moroney, Ronan Kilroy, Michael Collins, Graham Ball, Thomas O’Connor, Paul Rodgers 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: H Flanagan 0-9 (6f, 3’65); C Ryan, E Brosnan, M Fitzgerald, E Richardson, D Hurley, J O’Connor 0-1 each.

Clare: M Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); E Gunning (Broadford), R Loftus (Éire Óg), J Casey (Kilmaley); J Moylan (Cratloe), R Hayes (Tulla), M O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); D Costelloe (Ballyea), D Moroney (Éire Óg); F Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), M Collins (Clonlara), R Kilroy (Banner); M Cleary (Éire Óg), T O’Connor (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), M Power (Newmarket-on-Fergus).

Subs: G Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Moroney (HT), P Rodgers (Scariff) for Power (47), H Doherty (Clarecastle) for Cleary (49), J Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Collins (63).

Limerick: A Kearns (Na Piarsaigh); J Dwane (Kilmallock), S Duff (Mungret St Paul’s), J Murray (Patrickswell); J Cosgrove (Ahane), E Richardson (Doon), M Fitzgerald (Monaleen); C Ryan (Ahane), A O’Connell (Doon); J O’Connor (Ahane), Michael Leo (Knockainey), T Boddy (Dromin-Athlacca); R O’Farrell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), H Flanagan (Garryspillane), E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: D Hurley (Hospital/Herbertstown) for Boddy (34), G McCaffery (Hospital/Herbertstown) for Leo (50), R Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore) for O’Connor (53), D Collopy (Murroe-Boher) for Hurley (59).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Tipperary).