Munster Cup SH/Limerick IT 3-12 Clare 0-11:A Davy Fitzgerald-trained Limerick Institute of Technology easily dismissed the goalkeeper's home county Clare in the quarter-final of the Munster Waterford Crystal Cup at Meelick yesterday with a slick hurling display that was spearheaded by Galway man Joe Canning, who scored 1-7 of his side's tally over the hour.
Fitzgerald, who didn't line out for his county last year, had announced last week he would be returning to the Clare panel at the end of the month if he fully recovers from a hand injury sustained in a club match last year.
He put one over his new intercounty manager Mike McNamara on a day when Clare fielded a relatively inexperienced side, sprinkled with veterans.
LIT hit the ground running and were ahead 1-2 to no score by the ninth minute with Limerick man Seán Tobin providing the goal. Clare then opened their account with a Mark Flaherty free
But by half-time they found themselves in deep trouble as they trailed by 2-7 to 0-3. The students added a second goal in the 21st minute when Clare man Bernard Gaffney rattled his own county's net after fielding a clearance out of defence and, with Paudie O'Brien and Niall Healy in total command at midfield, LIT were full value for their 10-point lead at the whistle.
Clare hit back with a number of well-taken points early in the second half but when Canning was in for LIT's third goal in the 41st minute, there was only going to be one outcome.
The visitors' goalkeeper, Matthew Ryan, made two good saves after the break, when he first stopped Niall Gilligan's effort and then he produced a top-class stop from Martin Murphy midway through the half.
It was an easy victory for the Limerick college. Two first-half goals coupled with the third from Canning in the second proved to be the difference on the day.
LIT: M Ryan; M Walsh, A Byrne, E Collins; W Hyland, S Maher, G O'Connell; P O'Brien (0-1), N Healy (0-1); J McInerney, C Donnellan, S Herlihy; J Canning (1-7, 0-4 frees), B Gaffney (1-2, 0-1 65), S Tobin (1-1). Subs: I White for Herlihy (half-time), B Earley for Canning (60 mins), E Glynn for Tobin (60 mins).
CLARE: P Brennan, T Keogh, G O'Grady, G Barry, P Vaughan, D Clancy, P Donlon (0-1, 65), B O'Connell, B Lynch, C Lafferty (0-2), C Lynch (0-2), M Murphy (0-1), M Flaherty (0-1, free), N Gilligan (0-4, two frees), G Arthur. Subs: M Madden for Arthur (inj, 3 mins),C McMahon for B Lynch (30 mins), B Nugent for Flaherty (36 mins), D Quinn for C Lynch (36 mins), T Carmody for Madden (52 mins).
Referee: P Casey (Waterford)
