Limerick off the mark with statement win against Clare 

The Treaty bounced back from defeat in Cork to take victory in Ennis.

GROUND GAME: Mark Rodgers of Clare in action against Barry Nash of Limerick. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

CLARE 1-18 LIMERICK 2-30 

Limerick delivered an emphatic response to their defeat to Cork with this ransacking of Ennis in front of a 20,751 crowd.

The visitors were almost out of sight at half-time, 2-15 to 0-8, and topped up in the second half to join Clare on two points after two fixtures.

Shane O’Brien scored six points from play and Aidan O’Connor landed 1-9 on a day when Limerick’s half-back ruled supreme and their forward line produced 1-18 from play. The same as Clare’s entire tally.

Adam English’s second yellow 12 minutes from the end of normal time made life interesting but only a tad. When Tony Kelly so cutely won a ball in front of Barry Nash and compelled him to foul for a penalty and then stepped up to score a goal in the 61st minute, it raised an eyebrow. Again, only a mite.

The Clare crowd cried for a black or yellow card but it was neither and Limerick resumed scoring via an O’Connor free. Limerick finished with five of the last seven scores to run out handsome victors.

Limerick weren’t without their scares in the first half. Twice William O’Donoghue had to make crucial interventions, one of them a hook on Shane O’Donnell, and an injured Nickie Quaid kept out a Mark Rodgers’ shot from close range.

But their offensive play was outstanding. They were helped in part by how floundering Clare were in defence. Their full-back line was exposed by the yawning space in front of them as was the case for Aidan O’Connor’s fourth minute goal, Peter Casey was found with no Clare marker close to him, Barry Nash provided the support run and the target for a pass. He transferred the ball to his right to O’Connor for the finish.

Limerick’s network of passing was sharp and causing headaches for Clare who found themselves 1-8 to 0-4 down by the 17th minute.

Clare were caught again in the 19th minute, Adam Hogan forced to bring down Shane O’Brien. A penalty was awarded and after consultation a black card for Hogan.

Byrnes dispatched his second goal from a placed ball in seven days. In the period Hogan was off the field Limerick outscored Clare 1-5 to 0-2, jumping into a nine-point lead (2-13 to 0-7).

Gearóid Hegarty and O’Connor’s fourth free either side of Rodgers’ fifth converted free.

Limerick were only halfway there but Clare were already living on a prayer.

Scorers for Clare: M. Rodgers (0-10, 7 frees, 1 65); T. Kelly (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65); S. O’Donnell, D. Reidy, D. Ryan, N. O’Farrell, J. O’Neill, I. Galvin (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: A. O’Connor (1-9, 0-6 frees); S. O’Brien (0-6); D. Byrnes (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free); P. Casey, C. O’Neill (0-3 each); G. Hegarty, B. Nash (0-2 each); T. Morrissey, A. English, F. Fitzgerald (0-1 each).

CLARE: E. Quilligan; R. Hayes, C. Cleary, A. Hogan; C. Malone, N. O’Farrell, D. Ryan; D. Lohan, R. Taylor; S. Rynne, D. Reidy, T. Kelly (c); M. Rodgers, P. Duggan, S. O’Donnell.

Subs for Clare: D. Stritch for T. Kelly (temp 6); J. O’Neill for S. Rynne (h-t); D. McInerney for C. Cleary, D. Stritch for D. Reidy (both 42); I. Galvin for M. Rodgers (64).

LIMERICK: N. Quaid; S. Finn, M. Casey, B. Nash; D. Byrnes, W. O’Donoghue (c), K. Hayes; A. English, D. O’Donovan, T. Morrissey, C. O’Neill, G. Hegarty; P. Casey, S. O’Brien, A. O’Connor.

Subs for Limerick: D. Reidy for S. O’Brien (temp, 24-27); D. Reidy for T. Morrissey (54); D. Morrissey for S. Finn (59); E. Hurley for D. O’Donovan (63); F. Fitzgerald for P. Casey (70); H. Flanagan for C.. O’Neill (70+3).

Sent off: A. English (58, second yellow).

Referee: M. Kennedy (Tipperary).