ROAD TO CROKER: Clare have the hurling and confidence to clinch it

BEFORE a ball was pucked in the 2013 Senior Hurling Championship, Kilkenny, Tipperary or Galway had been tipped as the likely winners.
Following an outstanding summer of hurling, however, not one of the big three remain. Their absence has ratcheted up the excitement level of this championship, with the Clare v Limerick contest a mouthwatering prospect.

An attendance of over 60,000 is expected on Sunday when these neighbours go into battle for a place in the All-Ireland final, where Cork lie in wait.

It may not reach the heights of last Sunday’s outstanding contest between Cork and Dublin but it has all the ingredients for a cracking tie.

Neither management has yet named their starting line-up but both teams are expected to be along the same lines as their last outings.

Seanie Tobin didn’t play in the club championship in Limerick last week due to a foot injury but he returned to training on Sunday morning and is expected to take up his regular place at corner-forward.

There is a doubt about the fitness of Kevin Downes, who missed Na Piarsaigh’s win over Patrickswell in the championship recently. A final decision on his fitness won’t be made until nearer match time.

There are no major fitness concerns in the Clare camp, selector Louis Mulqueen confirmed. The expectation is the team that lined out against Galway will be named for duty on Sunday but that will depend on what formation the management team decide on.

Against Galway they double-marked Joe Canning, resulting in Cratloe’s Conor Ryan coming into the starting line-up at centre-back. This released team captain Pat Donnellan to play in front of the Galway forward, which cut off supply to the Portumna clubman.

Clare may opt to revert to a more conventional formation this week. If this happens, Ryan could lose out with a recall to the starting attack for Shane O’Donnell or Peter Duggan.

Last week’s U-21 success gave a further lift to what is proving to be a great season for Clare hurling.
David McInerney and Colm Galvin were outstanding in that game, with Tony Kelly and Podge Collins also prominent. They will meet more experienced and physically-stronger opposition this week and are unlikely to be given as much space and time on the ball.

Defenders Ritchie McCarthy, Wayne McNamara and Tom Condon have had a great campaign for Limerick, while Donal O’Grady, James Ryan and Declan Hannon have also played key roles in getting the team to this stage.

Former St Flannan’s player Seamus Hickey has been causing a lot of problems for opposition with his link play between defence and attack and Clare will need to keep a close eye on the Murroe-Boher man.

The Clare forwards have the potential to cause all sorts of problems for their neighbours but getting past the likes of Stephen Walsh, McCarthy and Condon may prove difficult.

Last time out, Conor McGrath was near his best form, while full-forward Darach Honan threatened whenever the ball came his way, especially in the opening half.

John Allen and his management team are sure to have studied the movement of the Clare forwards closely and it will be interesting to see what tactics they will adopt in an effort to snuff out the threat the Banner forwards possess.

A good half-back line is often the launch pad for victory, as was the case against Galway when Clare dominated in this vital area.

They will need to repeat that form this week if they are to cut out supply to the Limerick inside line of Graeme Mulcahy, Declan Hannon and the aforementioned Seanie Tobin.

Limerick have not had a competitive game in five weeks, during which time Clare had three games while the U-21s also had a big outing. This may prove vital on this occasion.

On the evidence of their progress to date, Limerick look to be the physically stronger side. Clare, however, have shown great pace and haven’t been found wanting in the physicality stakes either.

All the indications are this will be a very close affair and while the odds seem to favour a Limerick win, Clare have the hurling and the confidence to be ahead when Tipperary’s Johnnie Ryan sounds the final whistle.

THE STATS

TIPPERARY’S Johnnie Ryan will referee Sunday’s meeting, which throws-in at 3.30pm.

THERE have been many memorable meetings of Clare and Limerick over the years but Sunday’s clash will be the first meeting of the Shannonside neighbours in an All-Ireland senior semi-final.
Limerick have travelled the direct route with wins over Tipperary and Cork. Clare have played three more games than their opponents.

CLARE last appeared in an All-Ireland semi-final in 2002, when they lost to Kilkenny. Limerick’s last appearance in the All-Ireland semi-final was in 2007, when they also lost to Kilkenny.

COLIN Ryan is Clare’s top scorer with 0-40 to his credit, 0-29 of which came from frees and a further 0-6 from 65s.
Conor McGrath has contributed 2-7 with Tony Kelly and Podge Collins each hitting 0-12. Clare have scored an average of 2-21 and conceded an average of 1-17. In all, 20 players have scored in this campaign.

DECLAN Hannon is the top scorer for Limerick with 0-17, of which 0-1 came from frees, 0-1 from a 65’ and a point from a line ball.
Limerick have scored an average of 0-23 while conceding an average of 0-17. Twelve players have scored for the Shannonsiders on their way to the semi-final.

CORK’S victory over Anthony Daly’s Dublin last week means it will be an all-Munster All-Ireland final. A Clare win on Sunday will set up a repeat of the provincial semi-final when the Leesiders overcame the Bannermen, while a Limerick win will result in a repeat of the Munster final when Limerick were victorious.

THE opening game on Sunday at 1.30pm will be the All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final between Limerick and Galway.