So that’s four Munster titles in a row for Limerick, but only after an epic contest with their local rivals. Clare pushed them all the way to extra-time but the champions’ sheer will to win, experience and strength in depth gave them the edge. Some huge performances were put in from the likes of David Fitzgerald, Tony Kelly and Seamus Flanagan to name but a few - providing us with a brilliant contest.
Limerick now go straight into the All-Ireland semi-finals. Clare will face the winner of Kerry and Wexford in the All-Ireland quarter-final. The winner of that will then face Kilkenny and we very well could have a repeat all-Munster All-Ireland final!
Scroll down to follow the action as it happened. The match report from Thurles is incoming on the homepage so keep an eye out for that. For now though, thanks for joining us.
FT Clare 0-29 Limerick 1-29
John Kiely: “Both sides were really honest in their endeavor and I’m just really proud of our lads. We’ve been here before and we have these reference points to show we can do what we want to do. And every one of the lads who came off the bench made a huge impact for us!
“It took everything in out power to get on top!”
Seamus Flanagan, man of the match with eight points from play: “We don’t take these things lightly (winning a Munster title) but yeah we are going to drive on because there are bigger things to be won as well!”
FT AET Clare 0-29 Limerick 1-29 Clare get one more chance . . . they land a free in but Limerick come out with the ball and the final whistle is blown. Four Munster titles in a row!!
ET Clare 0-29 Limeirick 1-29 (20′) We’re into the final minute of extra time, minus what’s going to be added on . . . Mark Rodgers makes it a three point game before William O’Donoghue pops up with a huge score for Limerick! And THEN Clare work a half goal chance at the other end but Rodgers’ effort blazes over the bar rather than under it . . .
ET Clare 0-27 Limeirick 1-28 (16′) Conor Boylan gives Limerick a three point lead before David Reidy makes it four! It’s the biggest lead they’ve had in this match and the strength of their bench is showing once more!
ET Clare 0-27 Limeirick 1-26 (14′) None other than Tony Kelly cuts the deficit to one point, before Gillane points a free which came from Clare giving the ball away coming out of defence.
ET Clare 0-26 Limeirick 1-25 (12′) Gillane misses at one end. Taylor then receives another long puckout and assists the outstanding Fitzgerald who points from the sideline. Flanagan responds for Limerick. Those two have been giants for their counties this evening!
ET HT Clare 0-25 Limeirick 1-24 The wind has picked up and will be with Limerick in the second half of extra-time.
ET Clare 0-25 Limeirick 1-24 (7′) Gillane wins a free and converts it himself in the right corner, that’s his ninth point of the game. Tony Kelly responds with a point on the run with the assist from Fitzgerald.
ET Clare 0-24 Limeirick 1-23 (3′) Gillane and Flanagan with early points give Limerick the lead as extra time gets underway in Thurles . . .
FT Clare 0-24 Limerick 1-21 Extra-time to follow . . . Tony Kelly backs himself with a sideline cut and nails it, with the last action of normal time he sends this to extra time!! What a player!! He was never going short, Tony Kelly lives for moments like that!
Clare 0-23 Limerick 1-21 (71′) Limerick captain Declan Hannon stands up and bombs one over to give Limerick the lead. William O’Donoghue then makes an inspirational block . . .
Clare 0-23 Limerick 1-20 (69′) Duggan draws the teams level! Three minutes added on . . .
Clare 0-22 Limerick 1-20 (67′) Gillane with two men on him, leans into one, shortens the hurls and shoots high and over the bar. Duggan responds with a free.
Clare 0-21 Limerick 1-19 (64′) Gillane is out in front, he flicks it up and shoots early over his shoulder before Flanagan grabs his sixth point to swing things back in Limerick’s favour.
Clare 0-21 Limerick 1-17 (62′) Shane Meehan levels matters before Tony Kelly sends a free wide. Peter Duggan takes the next one as Kelly receives treatment and from distance he nails it!
Clare 0-19 Limerick 1-17 (58′) Flanagan’s latest point gives Limerick a two point lead but only until Shane O’Donnell is very cynically fouled and Tony Kelly adds the free.
Clare 0-18 Limerick 1-16 (52′) The teams are level for an 11th time . . . until Darragh O’Donovan points for Limerick.
Clare 0-18 Limerick 1-14 (50′) The outstanding David Fitzgerald scores his fourth point. Duggan then flicks a loose ball up with his feet and wins a free for Tony Kelly to convert.
Clare 0-16 Limerick 1-14 (48′) Gillane’s free is cancelled out by a solo effort from Tony Kelly - his eighth of the game so far. Tom Morrissey then waits in the pocket and puts Limerick into the lead.
Clare 0-15 Limerick 1-12 (44′) Cathal O’Neill ends a spell of poor shooting from both teams with a point to level matters once more.
Clare 0-15 Limerick 1-11 (38′) Five wides shared between the teams in the space of less than two minutes. A savage hook by Conor Cleary then denies Limerick a goal attempt.
Clare 0-15 Limerick 1-11 (36′) Clare open the second half scoring via David Fitzgerald after a strong run down the flank. No changes made to either team at the break.
HT Clare 0-14 Limerick 1-11 A wonderfully struck free from distance by Tony Kelly puts the teams in all square at the interval. Clare started the stronger, Limerick came hard then, and a level game seems a fair reflection of the opening half.
Clare 0-13 Limerick 1-11 (35′) Two minutes of first half additional time announced as Duggan’s sideline cut pulls wide.
Clare 0-13 Limerick 1-11 (32′) Tony Kelly’s free - after a rare miss from his previous attempt - levels us up for the sixth time. Tom Morrissey responds.
Clare 0-12 Limerick 1-10 (30′) Flanagan’s fourth point gives Limerick the lead, he’s been in the thick of it in the opening half hour!
Clare 0-12 Limerick 1-9 (27′) WHAT A GOAL! Hegarty with a magical flick up before burying a shot into the back of the net to draw Limerick level.
Clare 0-12 Limerick 0-9 (24′) Aaron Gillane’s pointed free makes it a two point game again. But not for long as John Conlon picks out Ian Galvin who puts it over the black spot.
Clare 0-9 Limerick 0-7 (19′) David Fitzgerald opens up and bombs one over to give Clare a two point lead. (Apologies for some technical issues)
Clare 0-3 Limerick 0-3 (12′) Limerick are settling into it, Gillane sets up Flanagan for a point. Tom Morrissey gets his first and Flanagan then adds another.
Clare 0-0 Limerick 0-0 (1′) GAME ON! Limerick win the throw in. Lose it, win it back, lose it again, win it back, lose it and then foul John Conlon as he comes out. Savage intensity in that opening passage!
Pre-match interviews
Brian Lohan on what he learnt from the round-robin draw against Limerick: “Every time you play against a quality opposition like that you try and pick up as much as you can so we’ll see how that goes.”
John Kiely: “Coming out of Ennis we weren’t overly satisfied with our performance and the group has galvanised itself over the past two weeks to get to here.”
The rain is bucketing down in Thurles, and according to Met Eireann it’s here to stay right through the evening. We’re 15 minutes from throw-in.
Some pre-match reading:
[ Nicky English: Clare now one of the top two contenders for the All-IrelandOpens in new window ]
[ Limerick v Clare: Cross border development reaches fever pitchOpens in new window ]
[ Malachy Clerkin: Clare’s Munster famine has to end sometime - why not now?Opens in new window ]
It’s a step up for both of them but the champions have a tendency to keep improving at this stage of the championship.
Verdict: Limerick
Check out Sean Moran’s preview in full here . . .
Teams (as per programme)
LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Cathal O’Neill, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Kyle Hayes.
CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInenery; David Reidy, David Fitzgerald; Cathal Malone, Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell; Ryan Taylor, Peter Duggan, Ian Galvin.
