Clare will meet Cork in the final of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship after victory over Limerick in Ennis this afternoon.
The heroes from last weekend’s win over Tipperary, Peter Duggan and John Conlon helped Clare to an early lead over the visitors, while Seadna Morey was taken off after fifteen minutes due to injury. He was replaced by David Fitzgerald, who immediately struck two excellent points.
Jamie Shanahan’s thirtieth minute point gave Clare a three point lead, but events off the ball would reduce both sides to fourteen men. David Reidy deflected a Diarmaid Byrnes shoulder, with the Limerick man falling and seemingly injured. Limerick substitute Tom Condon rushed over and struck Reidy in the ribs with his hurl, injuring the Eire Óg clubman. Condon was sent off for the strike, while the match officials – having missed the initial incident – sent Reidy off.
Tension was high between the two sides but the halftime whistle came soon to allow some breathing space for both sides, with Clare leading 0-13 to 0-10 into the break.
Duggan’s scores from free were instrumental in keeping Clare’s lead safe in the second half, while too many of Limerick’s attempts at scores went wide of the upright.
With ten minutes left to go the heart seemed to be absent from the Limerick fight and Clare sensed victory was on the cards. Duggan, Conlon and Tony Kelly cut through the Limerick defence to knock over some stylish points.
Limerick’s goal keeper Nickie Quaid made an excellent save on a Peter Duggan 69th minute effort of goal, with Cathal Malone swinging at the rebound but the sliotar trickled right of the goal and wide.
The clock ended the game on seventy-five minutes, although the game had been wrapped up much earlier. Final score in Cusack Park was Clare 0-26, Limerick 0-15.