*Ger O’Connell with Seanie Connellan. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
CLARE’s minor hurlers fell victim to a powerful finish from neighbours Limerick to exit the All-Ireland championship at the quarter-final stage.
Limerick 2-16
Clare 0-13
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Limerick progress to a first minor semi-final in five years at the expense of last year’s beaten finalists.
Hard to believe from the final scoreline that the Shannonside rivals were level heading into the final quarter but at that stage Clare were full value for their equality after Ben Talty lofted over five unanswered frees at 0-12 to 0-12.
However, that was unfortunately as good as it got for Ger O’Connell’s side who were back in the same venue where they lost the 2025 decider. Limerick were the ones to snatch the initiative when needed most coming down the final stretch.
Clinching goals through Shane Waters (penalty) Rian Horgan capped off a devastating 2-3 unanswered rally that Clare could only admire as the Banner failed to score for 24 minutes.
In truth, despite scoring the first two points through Ben Talty and Max Sheehan, once Limerick reeled them in by the fifth minute, Clare were always chasing their neighbours, with Talty’s frees keeping the Banner within touching distance by the break at 0-11 to 0-07.
The decisive moment of that first half came in injury-time when Limerick goalkeeper Sam Collins made an outstanding full length save to deny Max Sheehan what seemed a certain top right corner goal.
It didn’t deter Clare though as captain Colm Daly led by example and they did gather pace at the perfect time on the restart, with five placed balls in just seven minutes by the two-thirds mark.
However, just regaining full parity seemed to expend Clare’s energy reverses and with Limerick smelling blood, Diarmaid Mullins got progressively more confident as the last quarter elapsed to complete a decisive double over a battling Banner.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers for Limerick: Shane Waters 1-9 (1-0 Pen, 7f, 1’65), Rian Horgan 1-0, Zach Bennis 0-2, Eamon O’Sullivan 0-1, Eoin Hennessy 0-1, Colin Burke 0-1, Diarmuid Crowe 0-1, Paul Collins 0-1
Scorers for Clare: Ben Talty 0-8 (8f), Max Sheehan 0-1, Darragh Moran 0-1, Oran Duignan 0-1, Cian Mullins 0-1, James O’Donnell 0-1
Limerick
1: Sam Collins (Crecora/Manister)
4: Sam Mitchell (Knockainey)
3: William Ryan (Murroe/Boher)
2: Rowan Collins (Adare)
5: John O’Riordan (Bruff)
6: Conor Ryan (Monaleen)
7: Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell)
8: Xavier Neligan (Kilmallock)
9: Jack Roche (Blackrock)
12: Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh)
20: Colin Burke (Dromcollogher/Broadford)
10: Diarmuid Crowe (Doon)
14: Zach Bennis (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
15: Rian Horgan (Murroe/Boher),
13: Eamon O’Sullivan (Adare)
Subs
17: Donagh Horgan (Murroe/Boher) for Collins (35)
18: Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Burke (46)
19: Daire Long (Pallasgreen) for Bennis (59)
22: Paul Collins (Tournalulla) for Roche (60)
24: Callum Butler (Patrickswell) for O’Riordan (61)
Clare
1: Patrick Murphy (Tulla)
2: Odhran Perill (Crusheen)
3: Cian Maxted (Clooney-Quin)
4: Marcas Fitzpatrick (Clooney-Quin)
5: Isaac Hassett (Clooney-Quin)
6: Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) (Joint-Captain)
7: Seanie Connellan (Kilmaley)
8: Oran Duignan (Banner)
9: Darragh Moran (Corofin)
12: Cian Mullins (Sixmilebridge)
11: Ben Talty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
10: Gearoid Madden (Scariff)
13: James O’Donnell (Broadford)
14: Thomas O’Dea (Ballyea)
15: Max Sheehan (Ruan)
Subs
24: Fionn Daffy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for O’Dea (42)
19: Stephen Clancy (Killanena) for Moran (47)
21: Donnacha McKenna (Scariff) for Madden (51)
17: Darragh Clancy (Killanena) for Maxted, BC, 54)
22: Conor Coffey (Banner) for Sheehan (59)
Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)
