Limerick seek first Munster U20 Football Championship victory in home clash with Clare

THE Limerick U20 footballers will be looking to pick up their first win of the Munster U20 Football Championship when they welcome Clare to Mick Neville Park tonight.

John O'Grady's side are yet to register a win in the opening two rounds following defeats to Waterford in Rathkeale on a scoeline of 4-11 to 2-7 and most recently Tipperary in the Premier County, on a scoreline of 3-13 to 2-9.

The ‘Treaty’ county face a Clare side who have won their opening two games in this year's Munster Championship.

The ‘Banner’ county got the better of Tipperary in Quilty in the opening round on a scoreline of 1-16 to 1-11.

Dermot Coughlan's side followed this up with an impressive 1-12 to 0-6 win over Waterford in Lemybrien.

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Manager John O'Grady was disappointed with his side's opening round showing against Waterford in Rathkeale.

"The lack of application by us in terms of the willingness to get out and close down the space just wasn't there. You can take being beat but it was the manner in which we were beaten.

"We were outfought and there are just so many things that were disappointing about the performance today. We were second best all over the field, there's no covering it up, Limerick football is based upon hard work and we did not have any of that today which is disappointing.

"The learning we can take from today is that you have to perform on the day, you can't flip a switch with these things, you have to out there and make it happen," O'Grady concluded. 

Limerick did look to have bounced back in their Round 2 clash with Tipperary at the New Inn last weekend.

O'Grady's side, backed by a stiff breeze in the opening half, Limerick led by six points, 2-6 to 1-3, at the short whistle.

However, a big second half performance from the home side has them back in contention for one of the top two places needed to qualify for Phase 2 of the Munster U20 championship.

Tipperary got off to the perfect start with a Charlie Walsh goal inside the opening minute and when Liam Freaney kicked a two-point free from near the sideline in the eighth minute, they led by four.

However, for the remainder of the half Tipp played second fiddle to the Treaty men, who outscored them 2-5 to 0-1, as they took a six-point advantage to the dressing room.

Limerick were unable to build on their impressive first half performance and two second half goals from the in-form Liam Freaney propelled the ‘Premier’ county over the line ahead of their clash with Waterford.

Limerick will be hoping to pick up their first win of the campaign when the action gets underway in Rathkeale tonight at 7pm.