Clare Minors Suffer First Championship Loss

Munster Minor Hurling Championship – Sunday, 9th June 2019

Limerick 0-16 Clare 0-13

Clare will have to wait at least one more week if they are to advance to this year’s Munster Minor Hurling Final after suffering their first 2019 loss.

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The Shannonsiders finished with two late points through Cathal O’Neill and Adam English to get their first win and stay in the title race.

If Clare beat Cork next Sunday, they will be in the final but that chance was here in this game.

Patrick Reale, Aidan O’Connor and Adam English got early Limerick points before Cormac Murphy opened for the Banner and they added further scores through Shane Meehan and Keith Smyth.

But Limerick held a 0-7 to 0-3 lead as Diarmaid Cahill was denied a goal chance and two more opportunities eluded Clare in the second period.

Fergal Lynch’s side ended the 30 minutes just one behind as Keith Smyth, Shane Meehan and Cormac Murphy left it 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time.  And Clare overturned the deficit after the restart through Shane Meehan and Keith Smyth.

It was the only time the Banner lead as Limerick struck seven of the next eight points through Cathal O’Neill, Adam Murrihy, Liam Lynch and Patrick Kirby to go 0-14 to 0-9 ahead with seven minutes remaining.

But Clare rallied with four unanswered as Cormac Hegarty, Keith Smyth, Dylan Downes and Cian Galvin found the target.  But the goal they needed never came.

Scorers – Clare: Shane Meehan 0-4, Keith Smyth 0-4 (all frees), Cormac Murphy 0-2, Cian Galvin 0-1, Conner Hegarty 0-1, Dylan Downes 0-1.

Scorers – Limerick: Cathal O’Neill 0-7, Adam Murrihy 0-2, Patrick Kirby 0-2, Adam English 0-2, Patrick Reale 0-1, Aidan O’Connor 0-1, Liam Lynch 0-1.

Clare: Aaron Shanahan; Storm Devanney, Adam Hogan, Cillian McGroary; Jarlath Collins, Colm O’Meara, Tony Butler; Oisin Clune, Conner Hegarty; Shane Meehan, Cian Galvin, Oisin O’Donnell; Cormac Murphy, Diarmaid Cahill, Keith Smyth.