Clare 1-22

Limerick 0-14

Declan Rooney reports from the Gaelic Grounds

LIMERICK WERE DENIED a first Munster championship win since 2012 as Clare eased their way into the provincial semi-final with Kerry in two weeks’ time.

This was a convincing win for the Banner men who showed the gulf between the sides as Colm Collins’s troops now head for Killarney and a semi-final clash with Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s Kerry for the third straight year.

Kieran Malone impressed up front for Clare with a 1-3 tally, while the defence was well marshalled by Aaron Fitzgerald and Cillian Brennan and Clare ran out easy winners.

Clare huddle before the game Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Eoin Cleary curled over a lovely score after three minutes to start the scoring, and his forward colleagues Keelan Sexton and David Tubridy soon matched his tally to make it 0-3 to 0-0 after five minutes.

A foul on Jamie Lee allowed Sean McSweeney to get Limerick on the board, but Clare’s response was emphatic as Pearse Lillis, Jamie Malone and Cleary all found the target again – and only a great save from O’Sullivan denied Kieran Malone a goal.

But the Limerick defence was being carved open too easily, and after 18 minutes Kieran Malone exchanged passes with Jamie Malone, and Kieran round the net after his initial effort was well saved by O’Sullivan.

With Gary Brennan and Cathal O’Connor in control at midfield Clare were well on top at that stage, but to their credit Limerick responded with a couple of good scores as Jamie Lee and Danny Neville hit a couple of scores to trim the gap to six points.

A third Cleary score looked to have restored the natural order of the half nine minutes from the break, but with Lee and Neville instrumental, Limerick kept in touch. A free from McSweeney saw them hit back straight away, before Lee and Neville pointed again, which was followed by a great Paul White score to put a goal between the sides after 28 minutes.

Patrick Begley and Sean McSweeney with Cillian O’Dea Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

A great stop from Eamonn Tubridy halted Limerick’s run five minutes from the break, as points from Kieran Malone and David Tubridy, put Clare 1-9 to 0-7 ahead at half-time.

A foul and some dissent from Eoghan Collins allowed Lee to close the gap to four points early in the second-half, and by the 40thminute McSweeney pointed to put just a goal between the sides.

But Clare finally found their feet again after 13 barren minutes. Eimhin Courtney landed a great score, which was followed by four more unanswered points for Clare, with two of them coming from the boot of Cleary.

From there to the end it was a canter for Clare as substitute Gearoid O’Brien and Kerian Malone pointed in a 12 point win.

Scorers for Clare: Kieran Malone (1-3), Eoin Cleary (0-5), David Tubridy (0-3, 1f), Eimhin Courtney (0-2), Conor Finucane 0-2, Conal Ó nAinifein, Pearse Lillis, Cathal O’Connor, Keelan Sexton, Gearoid O’Brien, Gavin Cooney, Martin O’Leary, Jamie Malone (0-1 each). Scorers for Limerick: Sean McSweeney (0-5, 5f), Jamie Lee (0-3, 1f), Danny Neville (0-2), Josh Ryan (0-3, 2f), Paul White (0-1). Clare 1 Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg) 2 Gordon Kelly (Miltown Malbay)

3 Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)

4 Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis) 5 Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)

6 Aaron Fitzgerald (Éire Óg)

7 Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare) 8 Gary Brennan (Clondegad)

9 Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen) 10 Kieran Malone (Miltown Malbay)

11 Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s, Miltown)

12 Jamie Malone (Corofin) 13 Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg)

14 Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

15 David Tubridy (Doonbeg) Subs Conal Ó nAinifein for Kelly (42),

Gearoid O’Brien for Sexton (58),

Eanna O’Connor for Collins (69),

Gavin Cooney for D Tubridy (64),

Conor Finucane for K Malone (66),

Martin O’Leary for Courtney (67). Limerick 1 Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen) 4 David Connolly (Adare)

3 Sean O’Dea (Kilteely Dromkeen)

5 Paul Maher (Adare) 12 Paul White (Rathkeale)

6 Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher Broadford)

7 Gordon Browne (Na Piarsaigh) 8 Darragh Treacy (St Kieran’s)

11 Michael Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh/Castlemahon) 14 Danny Neville (Ballysteen)

13 Sean McSweeney (St Kieran’s)

2 Gareth Noonan (Dromcollogher Broadford) 15 Jamie Lee (Newcastlewest)

9 Patrick Begley (Mungret St Pauls)

10 Peter Nash (Kildimo Pallaskenry) Subs Iain Corbett for Nash (44 BC),

Josh Ryan for Begley (49),

Killian Ryan for Lee (54),

Davy Lyons for Fitzgibbon (61),

Daniel Daly for Browne (61),

Padraig Scanlon for Neville (64) Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!