Clare set up a 14th of June semi-final clash with Cork in the Munster Senior Football championship after a determined two point win over Limerick.
Clare 0-15
Limerick 0-13
Venue: Cusack Park.
Colm Collins’ Clare Senior Footballers booked their place in the last four of the Munster Championship with a hard fought victory versus Limerick. Although the Banner held a five point advantage at the break, their opponents increased their intensity in the second half and made the Banner work for their win.
Captain, Gary Brennan opened the scoring straight after the throw-in after thundering past the Limerick defence. Corner-back Robert Browne pointed for the Treaty County to level matters with less than a minute played. Ian Ryan put the visitors in the lead through a free on the fifth minute. Miltown’s Eoin Cleary in his championship debut fisted the ball over the bar with seven minutes played to level proceedings. Shane Brennan increased Clare’s lead on the twelfth minute as Dean Ryan made a vital interception down the other end of the field to create the scoring chance. Midfield partners Gary Brennan and Cathal O’Connor hit further scores before a great individual point from Podge Collins gave Clare a three point advantage. A free from Limerick goalkeeper Brian Scanlan narrowed the gap with twenty six minutes gone but Eoin Cleary replied with a fine effort off his left boot. Two Gary Brennan points without reply boosted Clare’s momentum but a 45 from Scanlan had the scoreboard reading 0-09 0-04 in favour of the Banner at half-time.
Corofin’s Jamie Malone got the second half off to an ideal start for Clare with a point immediately after the resumption. John Brudair’s Limerick showed a newfound passion and they were rewarded with points from Peter Nash and Stephen Cahill. Seán Collins picked off his first score of the contest ten minutes into the second half but his effort was cancelled out by an Ian Ryan free. Nash cut the gap to three points before a tidy point from Pat Burke settled the Banner. Three Limerick scores in succession via Iain Corbett, Ian Ryan and Cian Sheehan left the minimum between the sides with fifty seven minutes on the clock. Substitute Rory Donnelly got a much needed point for Clare only for Ian Ryan to reply with a white flag on the sixtieth minute. Cratloe’s Cathal McInerney pointed an important free for Clare with sixty five minutes played. Limerick custodian Brian Scanlan left the smallest of margins between the teams with a pointed 45 as the game entered stoppage time. A cross-field pass from Keelan Sexton fell perfectly for Cathal McInerney who secured the win for Clare with a point in the last minute.
John Brudair will of course be disappointed his Limerick outfit suffered defeat in this contest. Had they put in a better performance in the first half, it could have been a different story but they showed Clare too much respect and afforded them too much space when on the ball. The fact that Brian Scanlan was their highest scorer in the first half highlights their shortcomings in the opening thirty five minutes. Nevertheless they came out fighting in the second half and certainly gave the Banner a fright. At times it looked like the Treaty men were going to steal the game but ultimately their cause was hindered by the lack of scoring chances they created. Ian Ryan, Peter Nash and Iain Corbett did well for the Shannonsiders.
Going into the tie the objective for Clare was to win and they did just that. They totally dominated proceedings in the first half with the majority of the play situated in their attack. The Banner lost Shane Hickey and Shane Brennan to injury early in the second half while Jamie Malone had to depart the field due to a black card, in the past Clare would have let this break them but they showed the required mental resolve to climb the hurdles, although they took too long to adjust following the departures and nearly suffered the ultimate punishment. When Clare needed fresh legs they made changes and the amount of options on the bench is a big plus to the Clare cause. They survived despite being the second best team for large periods in the second half and this cannot happen against the Rebels the next day out. Manager Colm Collins was confined to the stand for this one, but his vocal absence on the line was not an issue as selector Ger Keane kicked every ball and pushed his players on. For the next outing the Saffron and Blue will need to tighten up in defence and substitutes will need to adapt to the match pace more efficiently but when Clare dominates proceedings they are a match for any side. Gary Brennan, Dean Ryan, Gordon Kelly and Podge Collins were the Banner’s best.
Teams:
Clare: Joe Hayes (Lissycasey), Ciarán Russell (Éire Óg), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry/Ibrickane), Shane Hickey (Kilmurry/Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (St Josephs Miltown), Dean Ryan (Éire Óg), Gary Brennan (Clondegad) (0-04), Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen) (0-01 45), Seán Collins (Cratloe) (0-01), Jamie Malone (Corofin) (0-01), Shane Brennan (Clondegad) (0-01), Eoin Cleary (St Josephs Miltown) (0-02), Páraic Collins (Cratloe) (0-01), Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes) (0-01). Subs: Stephen Collins (St Josephs Doora/Barefield) for Hickey (HT) (Inj), Rory Donnelly (Cooraclare) for S Brennan (40) (Inj), Davy O’Halloran (Éire Óg) for Malone (47) (BC), Cathal McInerney (Cratloe) (0-02 1f) for Cleary (57), Chris Dunning (Wolfe Tones na Sionna) for Stephen Collins (65), Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry/Ibrickane) for Burke (69).
Limerick: Brian Scanlan (Gerald Griffin’s) (0-03 2’45 1f), Sean O’Dea (Kilteely/Dromkeen), Johnny McCarthy (St Kieran’s), Robert Browne (Fr Casey’s) (0-01), Iain Corbett (Newcastlewest) (0-01), Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Stephen Cahill (Mountcollins) (0-01), Thomas Lee (Ballylanders), Gearoid Hegarty (St Patricks), John Riordan (Fr Casey’s), Pa Ranahan (Ballysteen), Darragh Treacy (St Kieran’s), Peter Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry) (0-02), Seanie Buckley (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Ian Ryan (St Senan’s) (0-04 2f). Subs: Danny Neville (Ballysteen) for Lee (34), Cian Sheehan (Newcastlewest) (0-01) for Riordan (HT), Kevin Moore (Glin) for Ranahan (55), Garrett Noonan (Dromcollogher/Broadford) for Browne (62).
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).