Munster SFC Semi-final: Limerick 2-14 Clare 0-12 "I am a Kerryman and always will be; but come next month I will do my level best to bring them down." Threatening words indeed for Paidí Ó Sé and spoken with huge conviction by Kerry native Liam Kearns in Ennis yesterday.
Kearns had just watched his carefully drilled Limerick charges produce a 14-man performance of great drive to decisively beat off the challenge of Clare, before a crowd of 13,117 at Cusack Park.
Kearns has worked with his squad for four years and strongly feels the days of the Limerick footballers waiting "to get kicked all over the place" are over.
"It has taken me four years to build up to this type of performance and I feel the time is now right for the rewards to be reaped," said Kearns.
He refused to accept his side were not tested in a match that was brimful of pace, slick moves and brilliant scores.
"Up to the time we had a man sent off (22 minutes) they were still with us and it looked anyone's game," said Kearns.
Somehow a pile-driver from midfielder John Galvin had been kept out by Clare goalkeeper Dermot O'Brien. Earlier, in the fifth minute, Limerick's Conor Fitzgerald fired a searing shot into O'Brien's net. This brilliantly taken goal was the beginning of Clare's problems.
Limerick right corner back Mark O'Riordan was the one to take the early shower after a crunch tackle on Brian Considine. Having been booked earlier on, O'Riordan left Meath referee David Coldrick with no option but to show the red card.
Subsequently, the atmosphere became poisonous and a Limerick official had to be restrained from invading the pitch, apparently intent on having words with the referee. Unfortunately, the incident was allowed to develop and there was the prompt arrival of three gardaí.
The 14-man success scenario still remains a baffling feature of Gaelic football. Kearns tried to explain the phenomenon: "The team affected raised their game and when you have a midfield platform of power and ability, as was the case with us today, it just works that way for the depleted side."
Limerick's hard-running backs and inventive forwards of the calibre of Muiris Gavin, Stephen Kelly and late call-up Johnny Murphy, who repeatedly won the 50-50 balls, consolidated the sustained central power of John Galvin and John Quane.
Gavin was a revelation and very quick to anticipate the breaking ball. He was a continuous drain on Clare's defensive resources and contributed seven points, two from frees.
After O'Riordan's dismissal, Limerick readjusted to effect, with Stephen Lavin moving back into defence.
Philip Smith was given the free-man role for Clare; but they were so badly outwitted and outgunned by Limerick's flair that it became a struggle for them and containment would become the priority for the home side.
Clare's passing was never as reassuring as that deployed by Limerick from full back Diarmuid Sheehy to full forward Johnny Murphy.
In the space of a few minutes, Limerick responded to O'Riordan's dismissal by getting three successive points.
The home team's forever dwindling hopes ultimately evaporated 23 minutes into the second half. It was indeed ironic that the goal chance presented to Murphy was the indirect result of a mis-kick on the right wing by Fitzgerald, Limerick's best player on the day.
The home crowd jeered at his wayward centre, but when the ball eventually returned to earth it fell among a cluster of players, with Kelly gathering and then placing a pass to Murphy who took the chance.
That score ended the match as a serious contest. It gave Limerick 2-12 to 0-9 advantage and the rest of the encounter was purely of academic interest as far as winners and losers were concerned.
Clare manager John Kennedy, also a native of Kerry, said: "We came up against a quality team that is being rated as a side in contention for All-Ireland honours.
"They have won confidence that has come to them in time. They are a team of great strength in depth and were well worth their big winning margin today."
LIMERICK: S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack; C Mullane, S Lucey, D Reidy; J Quane, J Galvin; S Lavin (0-1), M Gavin (0-7, two-frees), S Kelly (0-2); C Fitzgerald (1-2), J Murphy (1-0), M Reidy (0-2). Subs: J Stokes for Quane (53 mins); B Begley for Murphy (58 mins); P Ahern for Kelly (64 mins); P Browne for D Reidy (68 mins); C Hickey for M Reidy (70 mins). Booked: M O'Riordan, S Lavin, K Kelly. Sent off: M O'Riordan
CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, D O'Sullivan, D Blake; P Smith, A Malone, C Whelan (0-1); G Quinlan (0-1) , B Considine; M O'Dwyer (0-1), M O'Connell, P McMahon (0-1); O O'Dwyer (0-4 all frees), D Russell (0-2), R Donnelly (0-1). Subs: D O'Driscoll (0-1) for Blake (30 mins); M Hoey for Malone (half-time); A Clohessy for M O'Dwyer (42 mins); D Hedigan for O O'Dwyer (58 mins); M Griffin for Quinlan (71 mins). Booked: P Smith.
Referee: Dan Coldrick (Meath).
