Carmody’s return inspires hurlers

Clare 2-13   Limerick 1-15

An official attendance of 1,700 witnessed Tony Carmody make an impressive return to inter-county senior hurling action at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Tuesday night, as Clare defeated the home side in the Waterford Crystal Tournament quarter-final.
Three years ago, Carmody opted out of senior inter-county hurling. Last year, however, he accepted an invitation from Kevin Kennedy to join the intermediate panel and went on to captain Clare to Munster and All-Ireland honours.
Earlier this week, he answered Davy Fitzgerald’s call and lined out at corner-forward on Tuesday night. With 1-1 to his credit inside four minutes, he went on to set up the second goal and was also fouled on a few occasions resulting in points for freetaker Padraig Hickey.
“The guys did well but I don’t know how hard Limerick were trying. The only date they are worried about is February 25. They will come hell for leather on that date and I am looking forward to that game,” said manager Davy Fitzgerald after Tuesday’s game.
The manager admitted that he was very pleased with Carmody adding, “He did well and we will have to have a chat now and see what’s the story”.
According to the Fitzgerald, “A lot of fellas did well, a lot hadn’t played in a few weeks but they worked hard; but we still have a few different things to work on.”
“We won a battle tonight and it’s nice to win but there will be different days. Limerick ended up with about nine of their team. No one wants to lose a match but you can’t read too much into this either.”
With only four of the starting team from the drawn game in Tuesday’s line-up, Clare availed of the opportunity to give game time to some players who had not featured in recent outings.
Limerick also made some changes from their drawn game and this time regulars Gavin O’Mahoney, Graeme Mulcahy and David Moloney all started, as did Niall Moran.
For much of this replay, extra time looked likely again as the sides were level on no less than eight occasions. The winning score came in the final minute of normal time when Bryan Donnellan took a pass from John Conlon, team captain on the night, to score.
A goal and a point from Carmody had Clare four clear after just three minutes. Limerick dominated the next ten and were 0-5 to 1-1 ahead by the 12th minute. It was point for point from here on.
The sides were level five times in the opening half before Clare took a two point lead to the break when the score was 2-6 to 0-10. A 70m run by Stephen O’Halloran saw the Clarecastle player deliver the ball to Tony Carmody who passed to Ross Horan and the Scariff man found the Limerick net.
The Shannonsiders returned with Donal O’Grady at midfield and he had their opening point of the half. They drew level at the mid-point of the half when Brian Geary goaled after James Ryan had created the opening. Clare again opened a two-point lead but Declan Hannon, top scorer for the second time in three days pointed twice to level. With extra time looking likely Bryan Donnellan got through for the winning score.
Cian Dillon excelled at full-back for Clare while Seadna Morey continued his impressive form at corner-back. Clonlara’s Colm Galvin was very impressive at midfield while Padraig Hickey and Carmody did well in the attack.

Clare: Derek Fahy; Mark Earley, Cian Dillon, Seadna Morey; Ciaran O’Doherty, James McInerney, Stephen O’Halloran; Colm Galvin, Bryan Donnellan; Danny Russell, John Conlon, Jonathon Clancy; Tony Carmnody, Ross Horan, Padraig Hickey.
Subs: Peter Duggan for Russell (40 minutes); Aaron Cunningham for Hickey (60 minutes) Pat Donnellan for O’Doherty (62 minutes); Fergal Lynch for Hogan (65 minutes).
Scorers: Padraig Hickey (0-6, 5f, 1 ’65); Tony Carmody (1-1); Ross Horan (1-0); John Conlon, Bryan Donnellan (0-2 each); James McInerney (free), Colm Galvin (0-1 each).
Limerick: Aaron Murphy; Stephen Walsh, Tom Condon, Shane O’Neill; Bryan O’Sullivan, Gavin O’Mahoney, David Moloney; Tom Ryan, James Ryan; Declan Hannon, Niall Maher, Graeme Mulcahy; Mark Carmody, Niall Moran, Mikey Ryan.
Subs: Brian Geary for Moran (22 minutes); Donal O’Grady for T Ryan (half-time); Mike Carr for O’Sullivan (half-time); Eamonn Gleeson for Geary (55 minutes); Kyle Loftus for Maher (66 minutes).
Scorers: Declan Hannon (0-8, 5f, 1 ’65); Brian Geary (1-0); Mikey Ryan (0-2); David Moloney, Graeme Mulcahy, Mark Carmody (0-1 each).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan, Cork.

Clare 0-18   Limerick 1-15

One hundred minutes of great commitment at O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge on Saturday night failed to separate Clare and Limerick and this led to Tuesday’s replay.
When the regulation extra time of two ten minute periods failed to separate the teams, they, at the request of both managers, went on for a further two periods of five minutes but this also failed to break the deadlock.
Two errors inside the closing ten minutes of regulation time proved costly for the Banner side. Leading by three points, 0-11 to 0-8, with seven minutes remaining, goalkeeper Patrick Kelly was penalised when his short puckout was adjudged by match official Cathal McAllister not to have travelled outside the 20m line.
Limerick won possession from the resultant throw in and then won a penalty that Hannon blasted to the net to level the game.
After exchanging points Clare went one up again. Just before the finish as James McInerney was making his way out of defence close to the touchline, he was penalised by the match official who signalled that the Clare defender had thrown the ball. The Newmarket man’s protests resulted in a yellow card and in referee McAllister moving the ball to a more advantageous position. Hannon made no mistake and this score sent the game into extra time.
The game attracted an attendance of 1,040.

Clare: Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); Domhnaill O’Donovan, Cian Dillon, Conor Cooney; Seadna Morey, Enda Barrett, James McInerney; Nicky O’Connell, Pat Donnellan; Daire Keane, Jonathon Clancy, Cathal Chaplin; Aaron Cunningham, Fergal Lynch. Eoin Hayes.
Subs: Colm Galvin for Hayes; John Conlon for Keane; Patrick Kelly (Clarecastle) for Chaplin.
Scorers: Nicky O’Connell (0-6, 3f, 1 ’65), Aaron Cunningham (0-6 each, all frees); Pat Donnellan (0-3); John Conlon, Jonathon Clancy, Eoin Hayes (0-1 each).
Limerick: Nicky Quaid; Stephen Walsh, Tom Condon, Shane O’Neill; Brian O’Sulllivan, Wayne McNamara, Tomas Ryan; Donal O’Grady, Conor Allis; Declan Hannon, James Ryan, Niall Maher; Mark Carmody, Tommy Quaid. Eamonn Gleeson.
Subs: Graeme Mulcahy for T Quaid; Tomas O’Callaghan for O’Sullivan; Gavin O’Mahoney for T Ryan; Brian Geary for Gleeson; David Moloney for Walsh; Mike Carr for J Ryan.
Scorers: Declan Hannon (1-11, 1-5f, 0-2 ‘65s); Conor Allis, Wayne McNamara (0-2 each).
Referee: Cathal McAllister, Cork.

Semi-final on Sunday
Clare travel to Walsh Park in Waterford on Sunday to play the Déise at 2pm. The fact the teams will meet in the Munster semi-final in June will add to the interest in this tie but both managements are again expected to experiment.