Nimble Keating leads from the front

Clare 1-12   Limerick 0-9

INSPIRED by the scoring, movement and multiple free-winning capability of Barry Keating, Clare put Limerick out of the Munster Minor Football Championship in Cusack Park on Sunday evening.

Although the match programme had it that this was a Munster semi-final, the tie was two steps removed from that juncture. Clare will play Kerry in Tralee on Saturday at 4pm for a place in the last four while Limerick, who lost to Waterford on the same evening that Tipperary defeated Clare, are finished with minor football for 2013.

Clare started with James Woods and Darren Nagle replacing Eoin Clancy and Levi Howard in defence from the team beaten by Tipperary the previous weekend.

While eventually a decent hour of  football broke out, this play-off was very slow to build up momentum. Neither team scored until the ninth minute, when Limerick centre forward Jack Breen pointed from play.

A couple of minutes later Clare wing-back Kieran Malone pointed a beauty from open play. Barely a minute later Barry Keating buried the game’s pivotal score, netting lethally after superb work involving Dara Walsh and Conal Ó hAiniféin. Jack Breen immediately replied for Limerick, leaving Clare 1-1 to 0-2 ahead, 15 minutes in.

Breen pointed two more scores in the remainder of the first half for Limerick, while Keating hit three, two from frees won by himself. Wing-forward Joe Downes, also pointing, helping Clare into a 1-5 to 0-4 half-time lead.

Limerick started like young men possessed on the resumption, with Brian O’Connell and James Naughton pointing from play. However, the excellent Dara Walsh responded with a steadying point for the home county, who always held a minimum of a two-point lead during the second half.

Their defensive resolution was aided by the work of half forwards Joe Downes, Conor Galvin and Ó hAiniféin, all of whom defended diligently when Limerick attacked.

With 14 minutes left, Clare led 1-8 to 0-9, as scores from Cian Sheehan, James Naughton and Jack Breen kept Limerick in touch. Keating pointed another free, again which he won, while substitute Liam Madigan also pointed in that period.

Limerick didn’t score in the last quarter, while Clare added four points. Keating, Joe Downes and impressive substitute Aidan Davidson did the business, helping Clare to an ultimately comfortable win.

Killian Normoyle, excellent against Tipperary, saved smartly from Cormac O’Shea two minutes from full-time, while Jack O’Dea, Fergal Pyne and Jack Browne defended capably in a very sold Clare backline.

Dara Walsh excelled at midfield, with Eoin Hanrahan providing good support, while up front Barry Keating was the main man. He played intelligently and the entire Limerick full-back line had a spell at trying to keep him quiet. Conor Galvin showed admirably honest in a hugely hard-working display, while substitutes Liam Madigan, Cian O’Dea and Aidan Davidson all contributed positively.

Clare: Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey); Darren Nagle (Liscannor), Jack O’Dea (Kilfenora), Fergal Pyne (Killimer); Jack Browne (Kilrush, captain), James Woods (Éire Óg), Kieran Malone (St Joseph’s, Miltown); Eoin Hanrahan (Doora-Barefield), Dara Walsh (Éire Óg); Joe Downes (Cooraclare), Paddy O’Malley (Éire Óg), Conal O’ hAiniféin (Ruan); Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg), Conor Galvin (Clarecastle), Barry Keating (Ennistymon).
Subs: Liam Madigan (Kilrush) for Paddy O’Malley (37), Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora) for Conal O’ hAiniféin (45), Aidan Davidson (St Breckan’s) for Conor Galvin (54), Brian Cahill (Lissycasey) for Jack Browne (58), Conor Finnucane (Lissycasey) for Joe Downes (61).
Scorers: Barry Keating (1-6, 5f), Joe Downes (0-2, 1f), Kieran Malone, Dara Walsh, Liam Madigan and Aidan Davidson (0-1 each).
Wides: 7   frees: 23   45s: 3
Yellow cards: Aidan Davidson
Limerick: Tom Dwyer; Sam Mullins, Eoin Murphy, John Murphy (captain); David Cussen, Gavin Reidy, Seán O’Dea; Killian Fahy, Stephen Cahill; James Naughton, Jack Breen, Jack English; Brian O’Connell, Cian Sheehan, Henry Leahy.
Subs: Gary McCarthy for Henry Leahy (38), Shane Brosnan for Jack English (46), John O’Neill for Seán O’Dea (51 – inj), Cormac O’Shea for Stephen Cahill (54), Kieran Daly for James Naughton (58).
Scorers: Jack Breen (0-5,3f), James Naughton (0-2, 1f), Brian O’Connell, Cian Sheehan (0-1 each).
Wides: 6 frees: 22   45s: 1.
Yellow cards: Gavin Reidy.
Referee: Seamus Mulhihill (Kerry).