Michael O’Connor was in Rathkeale to see Clare battle hard but fail to overhaul the hosts who did the damage early on and ran out 2-8 to 0-9 winners.
NEXT weekend Shannon will host the game that decides the season for Dermot Coughlan’s men. Following an emphatic 26-point win over Waterford in round 1 his charges were left gasping for breath for the opening 15 minutes against a very impressive Limerick side in Rathkeale on Thursday evening as the Shannonsiders scored their first win of the campaign.
Waterford are now out of the Minor football championship and play Limerick having lost both games to date by a cumulative total of 46 points.
Tipperary are on four points with a scoring average of +27 points. Clare are on two points with a scoring average of +21 points as Limerick are on two points and a scoring average of -2. Clare must win against Tipperary and even then, it may not be enough as it will depend on how much Clare win by as Limerick based on results to date could win by strong double figures.
A whirlwind start by a confident Limerick side who utilised the pace laden Michael Kilbridge outfield had Clare on the backfoot from the first minute of a game that witnessed Clare play with the wind at their backs for the opening thirty minutes.
With their first attack John Keane’s charges had the ball over the bar as Tommy Ryan released Luke Walsh who made no mistake. Even with this first foray upfield Clare looked in difficulty as the strong Limerick midfield pairing of OShea and Keating were a constant thorn in the Clare plans all evening.
Bobby Smyth and Luke Walsh worked well after three minutes, and Smyth raced clear to finish past Cian Howard for the first goal of the round 2 game played in Rathkeale.
Clare’s Conor Fennell was unlucky not to goal within 30 seconds when his onward flick was sent out for a 45 by Jake Foley in the Limerick goal.
Dara Killeen was also allowed a roaming role outfield as Fennell was a target man for long high deliveries into the square in the opening quarter.
Stephen Young added a free after six minutes before Conor Fennell who was in some respects starved of the ball for most of the game won and scored a free in the 8th minute.
One aspect of the Limerick game that was successful were the raiding wing backs Calum Boyle and especially Paddy Downey who drove at Clare throughout the game.
One upfield surge by Boyle unhindered for 70 metres released Tommy Ryan who ended with the ball past Cian Howard.
In the final analysis this moment defined the game and won the game for Limerick. Cathal Talty sent over a free for Clare’s second score as Limerick continued their unfettered onslaught on the Clare defence. Bobby Smyth and Stephen Young (2) increased their side’s lead to a jaw dropping nine points after 15 minutes.
Clare can have no complaints for the remainder of the first half as Limerick did not score but Dermot Coughlan’s men for all their positive play under the cosh missed six scoring opportunities.
Clare added just a brace of scores from Darren Keane and a wonderful free from Sean McMahon as the trailed (2-5) to (0-4) at the break and facing the wind in the second half.
Clare required a barrage of scores early in the second half to kill any impetus that Limerick may create with the breeze that decreased markedly.
Clare substitute Gavin O’Shea had the first attack and score of the new half after 34 minutes. Yet, with Clare unable to score with regularity Limerick simply required the ability to keep the scoring low and tag on a score every few minutes.
Clare sadly from their perspective did not appear with 40 minutes fare played capable to tagging onto two very necessary goals.
The attacking flair and inventiveness of Limerick that hallmarked their efforts in the first quarter was somewhat diluted for most of the remainder of the game even though the lead they held perhaps meant they did not need to be over expressive and just be cautious, especially in their defensive duties.
The sheer power of the Limerick half-back and midfield sector never allowed Clare any semblance of freedom until the final quarter.
Limerick did not score for 23 minutes from the 22nd to 45th minute yet Clare only managed two in this period. Aidan O’Shea and impressive Clare substitute Colin Riordan swopped scores in the 46th minute.
Two points from Talty and Darren Keane gave renewed hope of a strong finish as Limerick’s lead was now just four points and Clare were in the ascendancy.
Diarmuid Hynes and another superb free by Sean McMahon left four points between the sides with five minutes remaining yet Limerick substitute Evan Curry had the final say with a high lobbing effort to end the misery for Clare.
Best for the winners were Aidan O’Shea, Michael Keating, Paddy Downey, Cathal Mangan, Bobby Smyth, Michael Kilbridge, Tommy Ryan, Cian Harnett and Calum Boyne.
Clare improved but the deficit was too much to overcome despite the efforts of Sean McMahon, Cian Howard, Jake Garry, Dara Kileen, Darren Keane in the second half, Paddy Nagle and Colin Riordan.
LIMERICK: Jake Foley, Ethan Browne, Cathal Mangan, Shane O Sullivan, Calum Boyle, Cian Harnett, Paddy Downey, Aidan O Shea (0-1), Michael Keating, Diarmuid Hynes (0-1), Tommy Ryan (1-0), Bobby Smyth (1-1), Luke Walsh (0-1), Stephen Young (0-3), Michael Kilbridge. Subs: John Fitzgerald for Keating, Aaron Considine for Ryan, Jamie Young for Boyle, Evan Curry (0-1) for Walsh.
CLARE: Cian Howard (Eire-og), Michael Kelly (Lissycasey), Daire Hill (Lissycasey), Ronan Kilroy (Banner), Sean McMahon (Banner)(Capt)(0-2), Paddy Nagle (St Josephs), Jake Garry (Cooraclare), Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Tadgh Lysaght (Kilrush Shamrocks), Colm Meaney (Clondegad), Darren Keane (Lissycasey) (0-2), Mark Kelleher (Ennistymon), Dara Killeen (Lissycasey), Conor Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks) (0-1) Cathal Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (0-2). Subs: Jack Kelleher (Ennistymon) for Meaney, Colin Riordan (Wolfe Tones)(0-1) for Lysaght, Jamie Moylan (Cratloe) for J Kelleher, Niall Fitzgerald (Wolfe Tones) for Kilroy, Gavin O Shea (Doonbeg)(0-1) for Kelleher (inj),
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).