Intermediates and minors in historic success

Clare 2-15   Limerick 2-13

CLARE hurling made history for the second time in three days when the intermediate team captured the provincial title for the first time on Wednesday evening.
A strong second-half showing saw them deservingly account for neighbours Limerick before an attendance of 3,168. Playing a huge role in the success was veteran Niall Gilligan, winner of Munster and All-Ireland senior medals with the county in 1997. The Sixmilebridge man was the game’s top scorer, contributing 0-7.
Clare made the better start and by the tenth minute had built up a five-point lead. Team captain Tony Carmody opened the scoring in the second minute, Declan O’Rourke quickly following with a like score.
A point separated the sides when Daire Keane won possession from an Andrew Fahy puckout and he broke through to fire home the game’s opening goal.
Just when it looked like Clare might pull away for a comfortable win, Limerick came into the game strongly. Corner-forward Michael Ryan caused a lot of problems for the Clare defence and he gave the Limerick followers plenty to shout about when he broke through for his team’s opening goal after 18 minutes. He followed with a point a minute later to level matters before Tommy Quaid pointed to put the visitors in front for the only time in the game.
Gilligan levelled for the home side and the teams swapped points once more before the break, when the score was 1-6 each.
Shortly before half-time, Clare introduced Mark Earley to their defence in place of Marty O’Regan who had just picked up a yellow card.
Points were exchanged again in the opening minutes of the second half but then Clare struck a vital blow four minutes after the resumption of play. Team captain Carmody won possession in the half-forward line and quickly passed to the unmarked Ronan Keane. The Éire Óg man raced through the Limerick defence to fire home a tremendous goal. Gilligan added a brace of points and Clare were five clear with ten minutes of the half gone.
Limerick made a number of changes, both positional and in personnel but each side managed just one point in the next ten minutes, which left the score at 2-10 to 1-8 with ten minutes to play.
Pádraig Hickey and Joe O’Connor both did well in the Clare attack after their introduction and Hickey scored two excellent points in the closing stages.
The margin was still five points with two minutes to go after both teams had added three points. Limerick then added two to leave just a goal between the sides at the end of normal time.
There were a few anxious moments for the Clare defence in the closing stages as the visitors went all out for goal but Patrick Kelly stood firm at full-back.
As the game went into injury time, Clare struck two points from Daire Keane and Declan O’Rourke before Limerick had the final say with the last puck of the game, Niall Maher goaling after a defensive blunder. It came too late to prevent Clare being crowned Munster champions, three days after the minors made history by retaining the provincial title for the first time
There were some excellent performances from Clare in this final. Clarecastle’s Patrick Kelly excelled at full-back, Kevin Moynihan did some great hurling at wing-back, while Michael Hawes had an excellent second half. Shane Golden got through a huge amount of work as did his midfield partner, Ronan Keane. Up front, Gilligan was excellent while Tony Carmody, Declan O’Rourke and Daire Keane made valuable contributions.

Clare: Andrew Fahy (Whitegate); Martin O’Regan (St Joseph’s), Patrick Kelly (Clarecastle), Alan Brigdale (Crusheen); John Fennessy (Sixmilebridge), Mike Hawes (Cratloe), Kevin Moynihan (Éire Óg); Ronan Keane (Éire Óg), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge); Daire Keane (Kilmaley), Kevin Dilleen (St Joseph’s), Tony Carmody (Sixmilebridge – captain); Martin Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Declan O’Rourke (Wolfe Tones), Niall Gilligan (Sixmilebridge).
Subs: Mark Earley (Tubber) for O’Regan (22 minutes); Pádraig Hickey (Broadford) for Duggan  (36 minutes);  Joe O’Connor (Parteen) for Dilleen (50 minutes).
Scorers: Niall Gilligan (0-7, 0-4f); Daire Keane (1-2), Ronan Keane (1-1), Declan O’Rourke, Pádraig Hickey (0-2 each), Tony Carmody (0-1).
Frees for: 6; wides: 13.
Bookings: Marty O’Regan (14 minutes), Kevin Moynihan (47 minutes).

Limerick: Barry Hennessy; Sean Browne, John Dillon, Denis Moloney; Niall Maher, Patrick Begley, Tom O’Callaghan; Conor Allis, Don Hanley; Dinny Aherne, Sean Madden, Seanie O’Brien; Michael Ryan, Denis O’Connor, Tommy Quaid.
Subs: Niall Kennedy for Madden (38 minutes); Shane Dowling for Hanley (45 minutes); Eamonn Gleeson for Aherne (57 minutes).
Scorers: Conor Allis (0-4, 2 65s); Niall Maher, Michael Ryan (1-1) each; Denis O’Connor, Seanie O’Brien (0-2) each; Sean Madden, Tommy Quaid and Niall Kennedy (0-1) each.
Frees for: 8; wides: 10; 65s: 2.
Bookings: Denis Moloney (11 minutes).

Referee: Cathal McAllister, Cork.