Limerick are out of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship after a comprehensive 0-26 to 0-15 defeat to Clare in Ennis.
John Kiely’s side were always second best to a Clare side that will now play Cork in this season’s Munster Final on July 1.
Limerick only needed a draw to be sure of a place in that final but never got going in what was a disappointing performance.
Clare went in front in the fourth minute through a Peter Duggan free and never relinquished that advantage. Duggan finished the game as top scorer with 13 points.
After a poor opening half hour the game burst into life when Limerick sub Tom Condon and Clare’s David Reidy were shown red cards for off the ball incidents with Clare three points to the good at the time.
Two further Duggan frees stretched that lead to five but Limerick scored two of the next three through Cian Lynch and Diarmaid Byrnes to go in at the break 0-13 to 0-9 down.
Playing with a strong breeze after the break, Limerick would have hoped to kick on early but they were unable to reach the levels of earlier in the season and Clare pulled away in the final 10 minutes to earn a fully deserved 11-point win.
Clare have beaten Limerick! Watch the Full-Time highlights here on GAANOW! pic.twitter.com/kX2eY3eDlk
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 17, 2018
In the minor game between the same teams, Limerick booked their place in the final thanks to 1-21 to 2-17 victory. Cathal O’Neill’s late ’65 proving to be the final score after a great comeback.
Limerick Scorers: Shane Dowling 0-4 (4fs), Tom Morrissey 0-3, Kyle Hayes, Darragh O’Donovan (sideline), Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes, Seamus Flanagan, Gearoid Hegarty, Dan Morrissey and Aaron Gillane 0-1 each.
Clare Scorers: Peter Duggan 0-13 (10fs, 1 ’65), Tony Kelly 0-5 (1 ’65), John Conlon 0-4, David Fitzgerald 0-2, Colm Galvin and Jamie Shanahan 0-1 each.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O’Donovan, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey; Seamus Flanagan, Shane Dowling, Graeme Mulcahy; Subs: Tom Condon for Finn (13 mins), Richie McCarthy for Mulcahy (h-t), Aaron Gillane for Flanagan (49 mins), David Dempsey for Hegarty (56 mins), Barry Nash for English (65 mins).
Clare: Donal Touhy; Patrick O’Connor, David McInerney, Jack Browne; Seadna Morey, Conor Cleary, Jamie Shanahan; Colm Galvin, Cathal Malone; Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, David Reidy; Podge Collins, John Conlon, Shane O’Donnell; Subs: David Fitzgerald for Morey (15 mins), Jason McCarthy for Malone (54 mins), Ian Galvin for Fitzgerald (62 mins), Conor McGrath for O’Donnell (66 mins), Michael O’Neill for Collins (71 mins).
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
