Tag Archives: Clare v Limerick

When Clare bring war to Cusack Park it creates a championship atmosphere to rival any other venue in the country, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh ahead of Sunday’s game when the Banner County hope to put a marker down and take the All-Ireland champions’ scalp. “Clare, wearing the old saffron jerseys with blue hoops for the first time in years, crashed into the exchanges from the word go in a manner reminiscent of their ancestors’ assault on the English ranks in Fontenoy.” Gerry McCarthy, The Irish Press, 1972 It’s a war to the power of hurling. Same as it ever was. Febrile, hostile, primal and all topped and tailed by all-consuming bursts of noise to the ebb, and flow and giving it that concertina effect – all somehow self-contained within the airspace of the ground. It’s home to what Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin calls organised ‘chaos’ and ‘markers down’, while Podge Collins cuts to that almost spiritual and awe-inspiring feeling of having …

On the panel for a number of years now Darragh, nephew of manager Brian, made his Championship debut last year when introduced as a substitute in the Waterford game and went on to start in the All Ireland quarter final victory over Dublin. This season the Wolfe Tones clubman has had plenty of game time to try and impress and he has certainly grabbed his opportunity with aplomb. Starting the League final at midfield, Lohan put in a powerful shift and is of course delighted with his National league medal. “It was an absolute fierce battle against Kilkenny as it always tends to be. We didn’t play as well as we have or as we can do but it’s all about the result and we’re delighted with the win. To be honest it’s great to get a reward for the hard work that we’ve put in over the last few years. To win a medal with your county is what …

Clare 0-19  Limerick 0-17 FOR the first time since 1997, a memorable year for Clare hurling, the Banner County will contest the minor and senior Munster hurling finals on the same afternoon. A thrilling victory over Limerick, in a game that required extra time at Cusack Park on Wednesday, has given an unfancied Clare side a place in Sunday week’s final in Thurles, a game that will be a curtain-raiser to the senior final between Clare and Cork. The minors will know their opponents on Thursday evening, when Cork play Tipperary at Thurles in the second semi-final. There were some outstanding performances, as the Sean Doyle-managed side overcame a fancied Limerick side in front of an attendance of 3,697. Equally, there are some areas of concern for Clare, not least their tally of 22 wides over the 80 minutes. Clare’s never-say-die attitude proved crucial in the final analysis and while Limerick threw everything at the home side in the closing …

Clare 1-26 Limerick 2-18 CLARE bridged a five-year gap when they were crowned Munster intermediate hurling champions at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Wednesday evening. The game saw good scores, bad misses and sending-offs but, after extra time, Clare emerged as deserving winners and Shane McGrath accepted the cup from provincial council chairman Cork’s Jerry O’Sullivan. Clare dominated the extra time, showing greater levels of fitness and they now look forward to an All-Ireland final date against the Leinster champions, Wexford or Kilkenny, who clash next week. The All-Ireland final is set for early August. With a big sprinkling of U-21s in their line-up, there will be concern as to how much this tie will have taken out of Clare ahead of their eagerly awaited Munster U-21 Championship semi-final date with Waterford next week. Clare survived the final 20 minutes of normal time being a man short, after Dara Walsh picked up two yellow cards in the space of …

Clare secured a provincial minor football semi-final date against title-holders Kerry on May 11, when they overcame Limerick in the opening round of the Munster Minor Football Championship at Hennessy Park in Miltown on Wednesday evening. Unlucky not to have been more than two points ahead at half-time, Clare were under pressure for much of a second half, in which Limerick hit 12 wides, bringing their total for the evening to 15. It was fitting that Clare full-forward, Joseph McGann should kick what proved to be the winning point. The St Breckan’s player caused a lot of problems for Limerick all evening and he finished as joint top-scorer for the winners, alongside his clubmate, Padraig Kelly. Clare had the better of matters in the opening 20 minutes, at the end of which they held a four-point advantage and their lead could have been greater. Indeed, there were calls for a penalty for the home side in the very first minute, …

By Seamus Hayes AN improved performance from a much-changed team earned Clare a merited win over Limerick in the Munster Minor Football Championship at NewcastleWest on Wednesday. It sets them up for a meeting with Waterford next week, in Waterford, for a place in the semi-final. While Clare supporters in the official attendance of just 353 will be pleased with the result, there will be some concern at the concession of 3-5 in the second half. It would have been greater but Killian Normoyle made a fine save from a Shane Stack penalty six minutes from the end. Overall, Clare were the better-balanced side and picked off some good scores. They were well on their way to the next round at the halfway stage when they held a 14-point lead. A brilliant start to the second half, when they added 1-2 in the opening minutes, killed off Limerick’s chances of a win. To their credit, however, the Shannonsiders battled to …