Can Clare maintain winning run over Limerick?

FROM the moment the final whistle sounded at Cusack Park on Saturday evening, signalling a great win for Clare over Dublin, the odds were that Limerick would be the Banner’s next opponents.
“It’s a tough draw. They are a seriously strong team. They have improved and they will be very focussed on Saturday’s game. They feel they should have won the league final and they will want to atone for that result. There is no greater incentive,” Clare selector Mike Deegan said when looking ahead to Saturday’s clash at Semple Stadium.
Clare aren’t expected to name the team for this game until Friday but it is predicted that it will be similar to that which lined out against Dublin. Enda Barrett is still out of action due to injury. There are fitness concerns about Conor Cooney and Cian Dillon. Both picked up knocks in last week’s win, with Cooney forced out of the game after 20 minutes. The expectation, however, is that both will be fit in time for the game.
“From here on, anything is a bonus. We are delighted to be through to this round,” according to Cratloe man Deegan.
He acknowledged, “The team will take great confidence from last Saturday’s win, particularly the older lads who have been there for three or four years without a championship win. The young lads tend to go out and play without feeling any pressure.
“Last week was a really tough game and with the short time between games, all we can do this week is have a chat and get focussed for the next game. It’s a matter of getting down from last week’s high and getting up for this week’s challenge,” Deegan said.
Patrick O’Connor and Colm Galvin are expected to challenge strongly for places in the starting line-up after they impressed when introduced last week.
Tubber man O’Connor did really well at corner-back after replacing Conor Cooney, while Galvin also impressed after he came in for Jonathon Clancy. Clancy and Fergal Lynch struggled in the half-forward line last week.
Meanwhile, Paul Browne and Conor Allis have both been ruled out of the Limerick side for Saturday’s clash. On the plus side, Seamus Hickey is back to full fitness and it’s likely that he will come into the team at midfield in place of Browne.
The defence will be unchanged with Stephen Walsh, Ritchie McCarthy and Tom Condon forming the full-back line in front of Nicky Quaid. Wayne McNamara, Donal O’Grady and Gavin O’Mahoney will continue in the half-back line. Up front, it’s expected that Declan Hannon, David Breen and Shane Dowling will make up the half-forward line, with Sean Tobin, Niall Moran and Graeme Mulcahy filling the inside line.
In their last meeting, the league final, Limerick were without Declan Hannon and his presence certainly strengthens their line-up. On that occasion they made a blistering start but failed to maintain that dominance.
The Clare defence will have to be very disciplined, as the concession of frees is sure to be punished by Shane Dowling, who has been in great form for the Shannonsiders, while Declan Hannon is also a strong free-taker.
The manner in which Limerick have been scoring goals in recent games must also be a concern for Clare. That said, the Clare defence was superb against Dublin and if Pat Donnellan and co can repeat that form, Limerick could struggle for scores.
The availability of Seamus Hickey is a big boost to Limerick. The former St Flannan’s College Harty Cup player is probably best known as a defender but has played at midfield. He has been out of hurling for much of the past year due to injury.
Saturday’s meeting of the teams is the fifth competitive clash this year. Clare have won three of the previous four, with the first meeting of the teams having ended in a draw (0-18 to 1-15). This was in the Waterford Crystal Tournament at Sixmilebridge when two periods of extra time failed to separate the teams. Three days later, the replay went ahead in Limerick and Tony Carmody came out of retirement to play a major part in a one-point win on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-15.
They met again in the opening round of the league in Limerick and here Clare had an easy 2-24 to 1-13 victory. As expected, both got through to the Division 1B final and here Clare had a 0-21 to 1-16 victory. Limerick followers believe they should have won that game, as they dominated the early exchanges and raced into an eight-point lead.
For the most part, Clare-Limerick games are always close affairs and form generally goes out the window when they meet. Clare may have had the upperhand in meetings this year but Limerick have shown steady improvement as the season progressed. This week there is an air of confidence among their supporters but hopes are high in Clare also, particularly following last Saturday’s victory.
Can Clare lift their game another notch in a week? They will need to if they are to progress to an All-Ireland quarter-final and a probable meeting with Kilkenny.