Limerick U20 footballers set for 'B' championship after Clare defeat ends Munster campaign

LIMERICK ended their Munster U20 Football Championship campaign on Friday night with a third successive defeat - losing to Clare 2-11 to 0-10 in Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale

However, despite the result, there is still another chapter in Limerick's season as they now play Tipperary in provincial B championship final.

Despite playing into the stiff breeze, Limerick gained an early grip on the middle third and, despite Pádraig Phelan's opener being overtaken by strikes from Seán Fenell and Daire Culligan, Cian Costello's leveller was followed frees from Callum Kiely and Andrew Kearney's double to put them ahead by three on the quarter mark. However, that turned out to be a signal for Fennell to steal the scene as he levelled the scores with a two-pointer on the run followed by an equalising single all inside a minute to leave the home side needing to ramp up the pressure all over again.

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While their only reward was Conor Ó Longaigh finding the target off a burst up the centre, they were still dominating the primary possession but that all changed coming up to the break when a sudden injection of pace led to a Fennell two-pointer and, after that was followed up by another strike from Donnacha O'Dwyer, the Kilrush hotshot split the posts again with his third double with the last action of the half that put his side leading by 0-10 to 0-6 going into the dressing room.

As they continued to press a high line, Limerick saw more of the possession on the restart but tight Clare defending closed off the spaces and narrowed the angles in a scoreless third quarter that saw the hosts shoot seven successive wides. Going into the closing stretch, the Banner's conservative defence of their lead continued to frustrate their opponents but, once deliveries from deep began to find half-time substitute Aidan O'Shea who had just returned from is brother's wedding abroad, Limerick finally found a chink in the armour and were breathing down on the lead when two Kiely frees were followed by Michael Mulcahy striking off an O'Shea tap-down from the sky.

However, as in the first half, the single point margin ignited another fuse under the Banner and a raid from deep saw Evan Cahill loft a pinpoint delivery towards the edge of the square which his skipper Culligan stretched high to catch, swivel to turn his marker on the descent and blast into the very top corner of the net. Not content with neutralising Limerick's entire second half recovery, the next movement found its way to Diarmuid McMahon who teased his way into the square to draw the foul and Culligan stepped up to the penalty spot for his second goal, albeit by slamming home the rebound after Cian Purcell had stopped his first shot.

Going into added time,the hosts drew a foul for Kiely to punish but Culligan still insisted on having the last word, signing off with a flourish as he split the posts from a tight angle way out on the right.

SCORERS: LIMERICK: Callum Kiely 0-4 (4 frees), Andrew Keareny 0-2 (2xfree), Pádraig Phelan, Cian Costelloe, Conor Ó Longaigh, Michael Mulcahy 0-1 each. CLARE: Seán Fennell 0-8 (3 2x), Daire Culligan 2-2, Donnacha O'Dwyer 0-1.

LIMERICK: Cian Purcell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry); Cian O'Sullivan (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Owen Dee (Cappagh), Danny McCarthy (Fr Caseys); Paudie Hennessy (Camogue Rovers), Andrew Kearney (Monaleen), Conor Ó Longaigh (Mungret St Pauls); Seán Holland (South Liberties), Evan Curry (Athea); Barry Griffin (Monaleen), Pádraig Phelan (Pallasgreen), Cian Costelloe (Cappagh); Callum Kiely (Claughaun), Andrew Lyons (Newcastle West), Darragh O'Carroll (Cappagh). SUBS: Liam Glynn (Ahane) for Seán Holland (injured, 15 minutes), Sam Colgan (Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan) for Paudie Hennessy (43 minutes), Aidan O'Shea (Cappagh) for Andrew Lyons (43 minutes), Michael Mulcahy (St Senan's) for Darragh O'Carroll (51 minutes).

CLARE: Barry O'Gorman (Cooraclare); Aidan Weaver (Lissycasey), Stephen Murphy (St Joseph's Milltown-Malbay), Aaron Killian (Lissycasey); Daniel Brady (Ennistymon), Diarmuid Boyle (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), Michael Kelly (Lissycasey); Evan Cahill (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Seán Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks); Darragh Townsend (Cooraclare), Colm Breen (Corofin), Donnacha O'Dwyer (St Breckan's); Diarmuid McMahon (Lissycasey), Daire Culligan (Lissycasey), Robert Fallon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane). SUBS: Seán O'Dea (Cooraclare) for Robert Fallon (51 minutes), Seannán Kiely (Corofin) for Evan Cahill (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).