LIMERICK exited the Munster senior football championship today following a 0-16 to 0-13 loss to Clare at the Gaelic Grounds. Eight points from Ian Ryan could not help Limerick claim their first championship win since 2012, as Clare march on to face reigning champions Kerry, in this season’s semi final, on the weekend of June 11/12, in Killarney.
The score of 0-5 to 0-4 to Clare at half time did not tell the full story of what was an entertaining, if low on quality, first 35 minutes. John Brudair’s men kicked 8 first half wides, seven of those in the opening 10 minutes.
Once the game began to take shape, Clare looked to pick off their scores more easily than Limerick who, with their young squad will take some positives from the first round as they enter the qualifiers one more time.
Limerick: D O’Sullivan, J Mc Carthy, P Browne, S Cahill (0-1), B Fanning, S O’Dea, P White, C Sheehan (0-1); D Treacy, G Noonan, P Nash, S Buckley (0-1), I Ryan (0-8, 7 f); D Neville (0-2,1f), S Mc Sweeney.
Subs: E Hogan for Mc Sweeney (29), P Hannon for Faning (58), H Bourke for Hogan (63), C Fahy for White (72)
Clare: J Hayes, D Ryan, K Harnett, M Mc Mahon, C O’Dea, G Kelly, S Collins (0-1), G Brennan (0-1), C O’Connor, J Malone (0-3), K Sexton (0-2), P Lillis, E Cleary (0-2), D Tubridy (0-3, 2f) P Burke (0-1).
Subs: P Collins (0-2) for O’Connor (33); S Mc Grath (0-1) for Lillis (47), S Malone for Kelly (Black Card 49), S Hickey for O’Dea (58), E Coughlan for Burke (58)
Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)
