*Darragh Lohan races for the sliotar with Aaron Gillane. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
DAVID Reidy’s early second half goal proved to be the difference as Clare gave their hopes of avoiding relegation to Division 1B a fighting chance thanks to 1-21 to 0-21 over rivals Limerick at TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday evening.
Clare 1-21
Limerick 0-21
Venue: TUS Gaelic Grounds Park, Limerick
By David Byrne
Clare, who made three changes to their defeat to Wexford in Ennis a week previously, put on a much-improved display in front of 16,789 on Limerick’s Ennis Road.
Played in near-perfect conditions, Clare led by three points 0-12 to 0-9 at half-time, before a spirited and determined Brian Lohan side ran out three-point winners with Reidy’s 37th minute making all the difference.
The result is a first League win of the season for Lohan’s men following three defeats in-a-row at the Kilkenny, Galway, and Wexford.
With confidence high after an important win on Limerick soil, Clare now need results against Cork in Ennis next week and away to Tipperary on March 22 if they are to play Division 1A hurling next year.
Limerick started the brighter of the two sides and after both sides were level on four separate occasions in the opening half Clare grew into the game, outscoring their Munster rivals by five points to two in the second quarter.
With less than a minute on the clock, Shane O’Brien bore down on goal but Eibhear Quilligan superbly saved to deny the Kilmallock man.
When Aaron Gillane hit the crossbar on the tenth minute mark after latching on to a long Diarmaid Byrnes free, the Clare rearguard were certainly withstanding an early Limerick onslaught.
After Limerick took an early two-point lead 0-3 to 0-1 both sides were level on three separate occasions in the opening half.
By the half hour mark, however, Clare had opened up a four-point lead 0-11 to 0-7 thanks to efforts from Aidan McCarthy, David Fitzgerald and Jack O’Neill.
By half-time, Clare led 0-12 to 0-9, with Brian Lohan’s side having score after the sides had been level for the fourth time with 21 minutes gone on the clock.
Limerick came flying out of the traps after the restart and points from David Reidy, Barry Nash, and Cian Lynch had the sides level for the fifth time.
However, Clare were ahead once more by the fortieth minute when David Reidy gave Jason Gillane no chance, blasting home into the far corner after Mark Rodgers showcase his soccer skills to create the chance.
From here, Clare outscored Limerick by nine points to eight to run out winners.
Tensions flared in the 64th minute when Limerick’s Diarmaid Byrnes saw red after a 21-man skirmish in front of the city end terrace.
Seán Rynne, Jack O’Neill, John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Darragh Lohan, and Aidan McCarthy shone brightest for the Banner.
Scorers Clare: Aidan McCarthy (0-7, 0-6f), David Reidy (1-0) Jack O’Neill (0-3), Tony Kelly (0-3), Seán Rynne (0-3), David Fitzgerald (0-2), Cian Galvin (0-1); Cathal Malone (0-1), Mark Rodgers (0-1)
Scorers Limerick: ; Aaron Gillane (0-8, 0-6f), Jason Gillane (0-2, 0-2f), Shane O’Brien (0-2), David Reidy (0-2), Barry Nash (0-2), Aidan O’Connor (0-2), Diarmaid Byrnes (0-2, 0-1 ’65), Cian Lynch (0-1)
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
7: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
3: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
22: Conor Leen (Corofin)
20: Seán Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
5: Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
8: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
9: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
10: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
11: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
26: Jack O’ Neill (Clooney/Quin)
13: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
14: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
15: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs:
18: Shane Meehan for Reidy (56)
12: Patrick Crotty for McCarthy (69)
19: Aron Shanagher for Fitzgerald (70)
Limerick:
1: Jason Gillane (Partrickswell)
2: Barry Murphy (Doon)
3: Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
4: Barry Nash (South Liberties)
5: Diarmaid Byrnes (Partrickswell)
6: Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West)
7: Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown)
8: Adam English (Doon)
9: Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
10: Eddie Stokes (Doon)
11: David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)
12: Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Mainister)
13: Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
14: Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock)
15: Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
Subs:
22: Aidan O’Connor for Stokes (half-time),
25: Patrick O’Donovan for Flanagan (51),
21: Tom Morrissey for O’Neill (59),
24: Donnacha O’Dalaigh for O’Brien (66)
18: Vince Harrington for Nash (66)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
