WATCH: Limerick see off Clare to earn first league win of 2023

LIMERICK got their first win of the 2023 Allianz Hurling after seeing off near neighbours Clare on a 1-27 to 2-18 scoreline at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

In his first league start, Kilmallock's Micheál Houlihan top scored for Limerick with 0-12, while Peter Casey and Kyle Hayes sent over three each from play. 

The Treatymen now have a week break before they make the trip to Pearse Stadium to face Galway on Sunday, February 25 at 2:30pm.

Limerick started the game superbly with Houlihan, Hayes and Cian Lynch putting them 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after just three minutes.

Aidan McCarthy got the first of six first half frees in response for Clare but that was soon cancelled out by Houlihan's second point of the evening. McCarthy then had the first goal chance of the game but his powerful effort crashed off the crossbar and away from danger. 

Points from Peter Casey and Houlihan then extended the Limerick advantage to five points before McCarthy got his second of the game.

Gearoid Hegarty then got in on the act for Limerick with an excellent effort from distance with Clare's reply again coming from a McCarthy placed ball.

Two further frees by the Inagh-Kilnamona club man saw Limerick's lead reduced to three but two Houlihan scores and one beauty from Shane O'Brien had Limerick 0-10 to 0-4 ahead after 16 minutes.

Mícheál Houlihan puts over his fifth point of the night to add to Limerick's impressive tally. pic.twitter.com/OnybfwBqIR

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 11, 2023

Clare then got back into the game when Peter Duggan diverted a long delivery into the path of Ian Galvin and he fired into the net. David Fitzgerald then followed up to cut Limerick's lead to just two.

Adam English, on for the injured David Reidy, soon had Limerick back in the ascendancy and two Houlihan frees had them five to the good with 27 minutes played.

Clare kept in touch through McCarthy but Limerick were creating excellent opportunities and Casey delivered his second point. Hegarty then notched his second to give Limerick a 0-16 to 1-7 half time advantage.

Limerick continued to be the better side in the early stages of the second half with Hayes and Houlihan putting over two apiece to stretch the lead to 10 points with 10 minutes of the second half gone.

John Kiely's men continued to dominate the second half with Houlihan keeping the scoreboard ticking over, while Casey and substitute Tom Morrissey putting up scores from play. Morrissey's second from play had Limerick 0-26 to 1-9 to the good.

The cherry on top of an excellent performance was provided in the 66th minute when a powerful Adam English run opened up the Clare defence and provided the perfect pass for Ó Daláigh to shoot low into the net. 

David Reidy did get a consolation goal for Clare but it was Limerick that left with a deserved six-point victory and their first of the 2023 Allianz Hurling League. 

Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Limerick v Clare in the Allianz Hurling League here on #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/a72sYZAJtF

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 11, 2023

Scorers - Limerick: Micheál Houlihan 0-12 (8 frees), Donnacha Ó Daláigh 1-0, Peter Casey and Kyle Hayes 0-3 each, Gearoid Hegarty, Shane O'Brien Adam English and Tom Morrissey 0-2 each, Cian Lynch 0-1

Scorers - Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-13 (9 frees), David Reidy 1-2, Ian Galvin 1-0, David Fitzgerald, Seadna Morey and Diarmuid Ryan 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Sean Finn (Bruff), Richie English (Doon), Fergal O'Connor (Effin), Ciarán Barry (Ahane, Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry); Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca); Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Micheál Houlihan (Kilmallock); Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Seamus Flanagan (Feoghanagh-Castlemahon), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: Adam English (Doon) for Reidy (8 mins, inj), Aaron Costello (Kilmallock) for O'Connor (30 mins, inj), Donnacha Ó Daláigh (Monaleen) for O'Brien (52 mins), Tom Morrissey (Ahane) for Hegarty (53 mins), Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for Lynch (61 mins), Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock) for Hayes (66 mins).

CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones), Conor Cleary (Kilmaley), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), David McInerney (Tulla), Aaron Fitzgerald (Eire Og Ennis); Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge), Paddy Donnellan (Broadford); David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona), David Conroy (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), Ian Galvin (Clonlara); Mark Rodgers (Scariff), Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona).

Subs: Robin Mounsey (Ruan) for Donnellan (29 mins), Araon Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Galvin (50 mins), Cian Galvin (Clarecastle) for A Fitzgerald (50 mins), David Reidy (Eire Og Ennis) for Rodgers (56 mins), Conor Lee (Corofin) for D Fitzgerald (59 mins). 

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)