Mighty Clare minors march onto Munster Final

*Cillian McGroary scored two goals for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Clare will play Kerry in the Electric Ireland Munster minor football final on Tuesday next at 7p.m. following their comfortable victory over Limerick.

Clare 4-20
Limerick 1-10
Venue: LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

On top from the start the Banner side held a nine point lead at the end of the first quarter and they maintained this margin through to half time when the score was 2-7 to 0-4.

Hopes of a Limerick comeback in the second half were rocked as Clare hit 2-4 in the opening eight minutes while Limerick could only manage one point in the same period. Both Clare goals came from Cillian McGroary.

At the second water break Clare were eighteen points clear, 4-12 to 0-6, all of Limerick’s scores coming from David O’Shaughnessy.

Clare made a blistering start and after a good team move Dylan O’Brian found the net after just forty seconds. After almost seven scoreless minutes Limerick had their only score of the opening quarter when David O’Shaughnessy pointed but Clare dominated from here to the first water break, hitting 1-3 without reply to lead by nine, 2-4 to 0-1, at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was more evenly contested with each side adding 0-3 to their opening quarter tallies. Clare will be a little disappointed that they did not score more in this period when they kicked a few disappointing wides.

As in their first round win over Tipperary, the Clare half backs were prominent and helped set up a number of the team’s scoring opportunities while also denying Limerick scoring chances at the other end.

An indication of Clare’s dominance can be gleaned from the fact that the Shannonsiders managed just one point from play in the opening half

Scorers; Clare; Killian McGroary (2-1) Craig Riordan (1-1, 0-1 f) Dylan O’Brien (1-1); Dara Nagle (0-4), Michael Nash (0-3), Eoin Killeen (0-3) ; Diarmuid Fahy (0-2), Brendan Rouine (0-2), Daithi Lohan, Josh Guyler, F. Kelleher (0-1) each

Limerick; David O’Shaughnessy (0-8, 6f) D. Bridgeman (1-1, penalty) G. Sheehan (0-1)

Scorers; Clare; Killian McGroary (2-01), Craig Riordan (1-01, 1f), Dylan O’Brien (1-01), Dara Nagle (0-04), Michael Nash (0-03), Eoin Killeen (0-03), Diarmuid Fahy (0-02), Brendan Rouine (0-02), Daithi Lohan (0-01), Josh Guyler (0-01), F. Kelleher (0-01).

Scorers Limerick; David O’Shaughnessy (0-08, 6f) D. Bridgeman (1-01, 1’penalty) G. Sheehan (0-01).

Clare:
1: Thomas Collins (Lissycasey)

2: Mark O’Loughlin (Corofin)
3: Fergal Guinnane (Kildysart)
4: Dara Rouine (Ennistymon)

5: Odhran Cunningham (Killimer)
6: Fionn Kelleher (Doora-Barefield)
7: Josh Guyler (Ennistymon)

8: Brendan Rouine (Ennistymon) Capt
9: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare

10: Dylan O’Brien (Kilrush)
11: Cillian McGroary (Corofin)
12: Dara Nagle (Doora-Barefield)

13: Eoin Killeen (Doonbeg)
14: Craig Riordan (Wolfe Tones)
15: Diarmuid Fahy (Ennistymon)

Subs:
22: Daithi Lohan (Wolfe Tones) for D. Rouine (40)
18: Sean McMahon (Miltown) for McNamara (45)
17: Michael Nash (Doora-Barefield) for Cunningham (45)
23: Joseph Rafferty (Doora-Barefield) for Fahy (52)
21: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg) for Nagle (52)

Limerick:
1: Kevin Lane (Fr. Caseys)

2: Zach McCarthy (Galtee Gaels)
3: Frank Corcoran (Mungret Gaels)
4: Sean Ryan (St. Kierans)

5: Eoin McGrath (Galbally)
6: Cathal O’Mahony (Galbally)
7: Sam Quigley (Fr. Caseys)

8: Padraic McMahon(Ballysteen)
9: Darragh Murray (Monaleen)

10: Paddy Kennedy (Galbally)
11: James Killian (Mungret St. Pauls)
12: Michael O’Mahony (Adare)

13: Daragh Bridgeman (Mungret St. Pauls)
14: Diarmuid Dennehy(Bruff)
15: David O’Shaughnessy(Ballysteen)

Subs
21: Liam O’Donnell(Cappamore) for Dennehy(31)
17: Oisin Enright (Newcastle West) for Killian(31)
19: Andrew Kearns (Caherconlish) for McMahon (34)
23: Gary Sheehan (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) for McGrath (49)
20: Oisin Moss (Mungret St. Pauls) for McCarthy((54)

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill, Kerry