Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final
Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-22
Fortune didn’t end up favouring the brave as Clare were agonisingly edged out by the minimum despite playing in front of a capacity 43,756 in the lion’s den of the TUS Gaelic Grounds, writes Eoin Brennan.
A contentious last gasp decision or lack of to award Adam Hogan a potentially equalising free that would have sent the Munster Final to extra-time for the second successive year re-emphasised the wafer-thin margins between these Shannonside neighbours.
Amidst the sweltering sunshine in Limerick HQ, a fourth championship derby in just over twelve months didn’t quite match the electric atmosphere as familiarity ensured more caution than innovation for the majority.
However, with never more than a puck of the ball between them for over 70 of the near 80 minutes played. It was still utterly compelling fare that did inevitably go down to the very last play.
Both sides had to made big calls beforehand as Conor Cleary’s shoulder injury didn’t heal in time to take his place on the match-day squad instead handing only a second ever championship start for Cian Nolan. Limerick too started without Peter Casey and Cathal O’Neill as Graeme Mulcahy and David Reidy were given rare starts.
The home side got off to the perfect start with the first two points through Tom Morrissey and Aaron Gillane by the fifth minute but that was as good as it got for the holders for the remainder of the half as Clare settled with six of the next seven through five different scorers (Aidan McCarthy (3), Shane O’Donnell, Ryan Taylor, Tony Kelly and Diarmuid Ryan) to power 0-6 to 0-3 clear.
Twice Limerick repaired the damage only to be hit by a sucker-punch in the 31st minute when Tony Kelly’s effort for a point rebounded perfectly off the upright for the alert Rodgers to fire to the net. With that, Clare should have added a further 1-3 but could only grab an Aidan McCarthy points as a second Rodgers shot was repelled by Nick Quaid.
The goal separated the sides by the break at 1-11 to 0-11 but it was soon gobbled up on the restart before an Aaron Gillane goal in the 43rd minute completely flipped the script at 1-14 to 1-13.
Leading for the first time in over 35 minutes, it was a timely boost capitalised upon by a further five point burst including braces for Gillane and David Reidy to soar 1-19 to 1-14 ahead by the turn of the final quarter.
A war-weary Clare looked a beaten docket but true to character, managed to unearth an incredulous recovery to come within a point of the champions on four additional occasions.
A premature pitch invasion wasn’t the most dramatic pat of the finale either as a last gasp rook near the Limerick 45 metre line saw Adam Hogan gather possession and appear to be tackled around his neck, only for the sound of the final whistle to greet supporters rather than an expected Clare free.
It was the bitterest pill to swallow as instead Limerick prevailed for a historic five-in-a-row of Munster crowns, leaving Clare to lick their wounds once more through the scenic route of the All-Ireland series in a fortnight’s time at the quarter-final stage against the winners of Dublin and Carlow.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon (Adare), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry): Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), Tom Morrissey (Ahane);Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock), Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon)
Subs: Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh) for Mulcahy (46), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) for Hannon (54, inj), Richie English (Doon) for M. Casey (57, inj), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora Manister)for T. Morrissey (57), Adam English (Doon) for O’Donovan (62-63, BS), English for Flanagan (63)
Scorers: Aaron Gillane (1-11, 8f); David Reidy (0-4); Tom Morrissey, Cathal O’Neill (0-2 each); Darragh O’Donovan, Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Adam English (0-1 each)
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones),Cian Nolan (Smith O’Brien’s), Adam Hogan (Feakle); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), John Conlon (Clonlara), David McInerney (Tulla); Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin), Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge); David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona); Mark Rodgers (Scariff), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
Subs: Shane Meehan (Banner) for McCarthy (45), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Nolan (50), Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Duggan (57), Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Meehan (65), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea) for Hayes (67, inj)
Scorers: Tony Kelly (0-6, 2f); Mark Rodgers (1-2); Aidan McCarthy (0-4, 3f); Shane O’Donnell, David Fitzgerald, Ian Galvin (0-2 each); Ryan Taylor, Diarmuid Ryan, Cathal Malone, Aron Shanagher (0-1 each)
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)