In Pictures: Flashback to 1955 Munster final when Limerick stunned Clare at Gaelic Grounds

(From Limerick Leader report of July, 16, 1955) Report written by 'Camán'

SUNDAY, July 10th, 1955, is a day that will go down in the annals of Limerick hurling as one of the most glorious in the long story of Gaelic Games by the Shannon.

For half a dozen years the Lime-rick 'fans' had to be content with watching others fight out the great battles for the Munster crown. And when Clare dismissed the grand finalists of a year ago-Cork and Tipperary-few could see a crowd of young Limerick lads, a lot of them yet to reach their majority, making any impression on the solid Banner County defences that had withstood successfully the terrific barrage of the Rackards, the Rings, the Bahnons and all the big scoring figures of recent years

Green Jerseys Everywhere

Clare players and spectators were bewitched and bewildered by the lighthing pace and rapid strokes of the green jersied brigade, who hurled with the unison of a well-geared machine, and had the happy knack of being in two or three places at the one time.

At least, that's the way it looked, and in the last quarter, certainly, there were three or four Limerickmen ready to pounce on almost every ball.

Limerick Followers Wild With Delight

Long before the half way stage was reached the field was a mass of wide-eyed, open-mouthed spectators, marvelling at the speed of the Limerick youngsters, and wondering whether Clare had any tricks left to counter a new hurling technique that set a pace yards faster than anything previously encountered.

The astonished Limerick supporters went into delirium of delight as the flying forwards hacked through the most vaunted defence in the country and cut it to ribbons, opening an avenue to the posts that Limerick travelled on eighteen occasions for telling flags that left Clare players and supporters agast.

The Opposition Dumbfounded

I doubt if any hurling victory gave such pleasure by the Shannon. Many, indeed, were sorry that Clare had to be the victims -the Banner County lads have too little of the fruits of hurling success in the past -but they made the very great mistake of under-estimating the op-position, and paid the penalty.

No team gets to a Munster final "soft," and Limerick beat a great Waterford side on the journey there, some were inclined to forget that. Clare undoubtedly had reason to pride themselves on victories over Cork and Tipperary. They weathered a few storms in the process. but hit a tornado in the final and were not prepared for it. 

The crowd of 23,125 (gate receipts £3,616 10s. 6d.) was a good one considering the feeling abroad before the game that Limerick would hardly 'make a match of it'. The fine day- the first real sunny weekend in two sunshine starved years, lured thousands to the seaside, and I know there were many ardent Limerick hurling followers kicking their heels restlessly on the beaches at Kilkee and Ballybunion when the all too brief message flashed over the t ether: "And now here is the ressult of the Munster hurling final: Limerick, 2-16; Clare, 2-6.

Mr. C. Conway (Blarney) fereed in satisfying manner, although I would have liked to see him refuse frees to a few Claremen who were inclined to force a foul by backing in for a charge. And I never previously saw a free given from where the ball lands in a hurling game.

The teams were: Limerick: Paddy Cunneen, Donal Broderick, Paddy Enright, Jim Keogh, Eugene Noonan, Seamus Ryan, Jack Quaid, Tommy Casey, Jim Quaid, Ralph Prendergast, Dermot Kelly, Liam Ryan (Captain), Gerry Fitzgerald, Sean Leonard, Vivian Cobbe.

Clare: M Hayes (goal), M Leahy, D McInerney, M Donnellan, M Nugent, D O'Grady, T Fahy, D Sheedy, N Deasy, J Carney, J Smith, D Dillon, C Ryan, J Greene, J Purcell.

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