Clare and Limerick player ratings - legal or not, Byrnes set the tone
BULLSEYE: Shane O’Brien of Limerick, left, with teammate Gearoid Hegarty, after winning a penalty. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
A masterclass in the art of goalkeeping. The puckouts which dictated everything. The poise that assured everyone in green. And when called upon the two reflex saves from Mark Rodgers that snuffed out any prospect of a Clare comeback. 9
Got away with a jersey tug on Rodgers for one of those attempts on Quaid’s goal but earlier denied another goal chance by not just fair but inspired means with his interception of a Tony Kelly handpass intended for Shane O’Donnell. All 36 inches of his hurley that he spoke to Donal Óg Cusack about afterwards were required there. 7
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Afforded much more cover than his counterpart at the other end of the field but still more than held up his own end. 7
The ultimate 360° inside defender, cutting out scores at one end, then driving forward to knock over a couple of points himself at the other. This was vintage Limerick and vintage Nash. 8
More than anyone set the tone for the day, first with providing the assist for the game’s and Peter Casey’s opening point, then with that thunderous hit on Shane O’Donnell. On another day he wouldn’t have got away with it but here he did and after that he and Limerick never looked back. Scored 1-2 himself though the highlight was a surging catch and run to set up an Aidan O’Connor point. 8.5
Another halfback who flirted with a red card early on, pulling off Peter Duggan’s helmet, but was otherwise excellent. Set in motion the first goal of the game, then with a brilliant hook denied one for Shane O’Donnell. 8
In the first half wasn’t as prominent as he usually would be or his halfback colleagues were but in the second half made some typically incisive dashes upfield to pile on the pain for Clare. 6.5
Had to get the line for a second head-high challenge but before that made some delightful contributions with arrowing a ball over the bar and a Cian Lynch-like jab into the hand. 7
Handy backup to have in the case of Cian Lynch being unavailable, isn’t he? Limerick’s midfield cleaned Clare’s here and O’Donovan’s astuteness and industry was central to that. 7
Immense. While the Big Three of Hegarty, Gillane and any pick of Casey, Flanagan or Morrissey has been the attacking platform upon which Limerick created a dynasty, here it was the young guns 1-2-3 punch of O’Neill, O’Brien and O’Connor that stood out. O’Neill won the first puckout of the day to set in motion its first point before going on to score 0-3 himself. 8
Helped Limerick get off to such a fine start with his craft and movement, scoring or assisting with two of their opening five scores. 6.5
Much of the pre-match speculation centred around where he would be eventually stationed. In the end he remained on the wing rather than move into the corner. Took until the 13th minute for his first touch of the game but with it he scored a delightful point along the wing before then playing a one-two from a sideline ball to fire over another. 7
Showed yet again with his movement, wrists and final tally of 0-3 why he is this hurling generation’s John Egan - the most admired under-rated corner forward in the game. 8
Gave Conor Cleary more trouble than Aaron Gillane ever has. Proved he’s as good a ball-winner as he is a ball-player with how he went about registering six points from play. 9
Another of the team’s younger contingent who now seems totally comfortable in both his own skin and as a starter in that Limerick shirt. Finished with 1-9, 1-3 from play. 8.5
DAVID REIDY 6 DAN MORRISSEY In just 15 minutes on the field showed why he’s won and started in so many All-Irelands – and that he wants to win and start in more. 8 FINTAN FITZGERALD Scored a splendid point running out by the touchline upon coming on in injury-time. 7 HUGH FLANAGAN, ETHAN HURLEY Not on long enough to be rated.
Couldn’t find a Clare jersey here as easily or readily as he did against Waterford a fortnight ago. Could do little about either of Limerick’s goals too. 6
Epitomised Clare’s sluggishness by how he was caught in possession by Shane O’Brien. 5
Privately Clare fullback line players in recent years have spoken amongst themselves how they’d love to get the kind of protection their Limerick counterparts do. Even in his prime Cleary would have found Shane O’Brien a handful here but with so much space in front of him he sank. 5
Even Clare’s best man-to-man defender was overran and overwhelmed, having to resort to conceding a black-card penalty on Shane O’Neill. Right there was the end of the game as a contest. 5
One of the regular features of Clare’s Cusack Park residency in the round-robin era has been Ryan’s capacity to rally his team and score from range and here he was part of the general Clare malaise. Doubtful he’s had a quieter game in Ennis. 5
Not surprisingly for someone in their first season as a back or on a county panel, couldn’t stem Limerick’s dominance of the middle channel in the first half. To his credit got on the ball more in the second half to score a fine point on the run and play forward-friendly ball into Tony Kelly. Few other Clare players out the field could say that about their distribution. 5.5
Another magnificent servant for Clare that was oddly off the pace. 5
Scored two goals when the sides had last met in championship but was a peripheral figure here. 5
Fought hard, epitomised by tracking Adam English back to prevent a shot on Clare’s goal in the 13th minute, but question marks remain about where he’s best starting: in the backs, midfield, the bench? 6
Touch was off the few times he was within orbit of the ball and duly made way at halftime. 5
Scored a fine point early on but thereafter struggled. 5
Was uncharacteristically off it, as illustrated by looking to play in O’Donnell rather than go for goal himself before Finn’s interception, then early in the second half opting to shoot off his left when he appeared to have more room on his right. Still showed admirable defiance upon being moved to full forward to finish with 1-2. 6
Led the line as valiantly as he could, finishing with 10 points, including two from play which was more than any other Clare player managed. Yet even his shooting wasn’t as sharp as normal; one wide in particular incurred the wrath of Tony Kelly who had been unmarked. 7
Similarly tried to bring the fight by claiming a couple of puckouts and deliveries but such an agricultural approach ultimately played into Limerick’s hands. Failed to register a score. 6
Early on threatened to torment Limerick, winning a free and scoring a point, but after that hit from Byrne was never the same. Thankfully didn’t seem concussed but given his history with that condition and how it was he was on the receiving end of that challenge, it should be of concern the leniency Byrne was afforded. 6
JACK O’NEILL Provided a bit more dynamism upon being brought on at halftime. 6 DAVID McINERNEY One of the few positives for Clare was for him to get back on the field and get 30 minutes into the leg. Will likely start the next day against Tipp. 6 DIARMUID STRITCH Even he didn’t get to provide the spark he normally does upon being thrown in. 6 IAN GALVIN As he tends to do, fired over a point in the limited game-time he got, as academic as it might have been. 6
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