*Eoin Cleary was Clare’s top scorer. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior footballers have exited the Munster SFC after coming out second best in a penalty shootout to Limerick.
Limerick 2-16
Clare 1-19
Limerick win 4-1 on penalties
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Played in front 2,980 at Cusack Park, there was drama aplenty as for the first time in the Munster SFC, a penalty shootout determined the winners which on this occasion is Limerick who for the majority of Saturday’s tie were the hungrier and better side, a platform which ensured their more fancied opponents never got too far ahead.
Making his senior debut, Tristan O’Callaghan won’t forget the game anytime soon, the St Breckans man was part of history but regrettable came out on the wrong side. That said, he could not be faulted for any of the Limerick penalties which were superbly dispatched by Iain Corbett, Robbie Bourke, Brian Donovan and James Naughton.
Colm Collins admitted to The Clare Echo that they had not practiced penalties in advance of the tie, their go-to men in this regard, David Tubridy and Gavin Cooney were off the field for this stage with Joe McGann the only successful converter as Cian O’Dea and Conor Jordan watched their efforts miss the target.
Evenly matched for the first quarter, Limerick began to dominate when they kicked 1-04 without reply in the space of eleven minutes. Full-back Brian Fanning registered the goal after tearing up to sixty yards with possession before tucking the ball into the bottom of the net, for this instance the Clare defence was porous and it definitely was for large patches of proceedings allowing Limerick plenty of opportunities.
Fortunately for Clare, David Tubridy netted a penalty in the opening half after Gavin Cooney was brought down, the decision of referee Conor Lane not to dish out a black card to Michael Donovan for this tackle was questionable. Tubridy’s green flag left it 1-09 1-06 in Limerick’s favour at half-time.
Six second half wides and guilted goal chance from Cooney were costly for Clare who at the other end limited their opponents to four points in the second half, one of which came from play.
For arguably too long, Clare didn’t make any substitutes, once they entered the fray the fresh legs made a difference with Daniel Walsh and Brendy Rouine all contributing assists immediately. Rouine set up Jamie Malone for what looked to be the match-winning score on seventy four minutes only for Limerick to work the ball up the field, not too quickly mind, and win a free which the impressive Robbie Bourke converted.
Extra time was a mixed bag, Clare began to get in control with Eoin Cleary pointing the way, adding three points but this was cancelled out when Bourke goaled in the final move of the first half. Peter Nash extended their lead to two points on the restart but Brendy Rouine and Cleary nailed efforts to send the tie to penalties where Limerick simply reigned supreme.
It is the first time during Colm Collins’ stint as manager that Limerick have defeated Clare in the Munster SFC. Clare had their chances, they didn’t take them while in certain sectors the workrate was simply off the level of their Limerick counterparts. Ciaran Russell, Darren O’Neill, Brendy Rouine and Cillian Brennan impressed for the Banner who must now navigate through the qualifiers.
Scorers Limerick: J Ryan (0-06 5f), R Bourke (1-02 2f), B Fanning (1-00), C Fahy (0-02), P Nash (0-02), H Bourke (0-01), D Treacy (0-01), A Enright (0-01), B Donovan (0-01).
Scorers Clare: E Cleary (0-06 4f), A Griffin (0-04), D Tubridy (1-01 1’Pen), D O’Neill (0-02), B Rouine (0-02 1f), P Lillis (0-01), E McMahon (0-01), G Cooney (0-01), J Malone (0-01)
Limerick:
1: Donal Ó Sullivan Capt Monaleen
4: Michael Donovan (Galbally)
3: Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen)
2: Sean O’Dea (Kilteely/Dromkeen)
5: Cian Sheehan (Newcastlewest)
6: Iain Corbett (Newcastlewest)
7: Paul Maher (Adare)
8: Darragh Treacy (St Kierans)
9: Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher/Broadford)
10: Adrian Enright (Fr.Caseys)
11: Brian Donovan (Monaleen)
12: James Naughton (St Senans)
15: Hugh Bourke (Adare)
14: Josh Ryan (Oola)
13: Peter Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
Subs:
16: Aaron O’Sullivan (Pallasgreen)
17: Jim Liston (Gerald Griffins) for M Donovan (55)
25: Diarmuid Kelly (Newcastlewest) for Enright (58)
26: Robbie Bourke (Adare) for Ryan (64)
20: Gordon Brown (Na Piarsaigh) for Maher (64)
22: Tommy Griffin (Gerald Griffins) for B Donovan (68)
24: Killian Ryan (Mungret/St Pauls) for Kelly (FT)
11: Brian Donovan for H Bourke (73)
19: Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins) for Sheehan (77)
CLARE:
16: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckans)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
7: Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis)
9: Ciarán Russell (Éire Óg)
6: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
8: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
5: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
12: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
10: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
14: David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
13: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
25: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for E Collins (55)
24: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon) for Tubridy (56)
19: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil) for Lillis (64)
17: Pádraic Collins (Cratloe) for McMahon (66)
20: Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks) for P Collins (FT)
21: Darragh McDonagh (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Doherty (78)
23: Ciaran Morrissey (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Brennan (80)
26: Joe McGann (St Breckans) for Cooney (80)
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
