Limerick exit Munster U20 Hurling Championship with defeat to Clare

LIMERICK were defeated by Clare 0-27 to 1-20 in round five of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday evening. 

This defeat has now brought an end to Limerick's U20 Hurling Championship for the 2025 season. Limerick suffered defeats to Cork and Cork, played out a draw with Waterford and recorded a victory over Tipperary during the Munster U20 Hurling Championship. 

Wednesday's clash between Limerick and Clare was effectively a Munster U20 quarter-final. A win or draw would secure the Shannonsiders place into the Munster semi-final, while Clare needed a win to avoid their season coming to an end. 

Evan Loftus made one change his starting XV from the side that were narrowly defeated to Cork last week. Sean Duff replaced Donal Coughlan on the Limerick starting XV.

Full back Sean Casey, Darragh Langan and Hugh Flanagan are all part of John Kiely's squad this year. Meanwhile, Jack O'Neill and Diarmuid Stritch have been added to the Clare senior hurling panel this year. 

It was Clare who started brightly in the opening period but Limerick produced a strong finish to the first half to trail 0-17 to 0-13 at the interval. 

After 10 minutes, Clare raced into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. James Organ, Jack O'Neill, Fred Hegarty and Sean Boyce were central to the Banner conuty's bright start. Mungret St Paul's clubmen Mark O'Brien and Fintan Fitzgerald kept Limerick within touch in the early stages of the first half. 

Fitzgerald and Robert O'Farrell combined two minutes later to make it 0-6 to 0-4. On 27 minutes Clare had outscored their opponents 0-11 to 0-4. During the period, Clare were able to pick their scores easily through Jack O'Neill, Eoin McMahon, James Organ, Diarmuid Stritch and Fred Hegarty to push them 0-17 to 0-8 in front. The home side came storming back into this contest when Hugh Flanagan, Matthew Fitzgerald and two frees and a 65 courtesy of Mark O'Brien narrowed the gap to four points. 

Clare dominated the first half but Loftus' charges had themseleves back into a good position at the break as they trailed 0-17 to 0-13. 

Hegarty and Mark O'Brien traded scores in the early exchanges of the second half. Clare sharpshooter Fred Hegarty hit back to shove Clare 0-19 to 0-14 ahead.

However, Limerick battled back once again, Mark O'Brien and Diarmaid Hurley made it a one score game. Clare appeared to be gaining the upper hand following quick-fire points from Ronan Kilroy and Jack O'Neill.

On 43 minutes, Fintan Fitzgerald spotted a long range run from Robert O'Farrell and O'Farrell drilled his shot low past Clare goalkeeper Mark Sheedy. O'Brien and substitute Ruairi O'Connor left the minimium between the sides. 

The hosts struggled with their accuracy in front of goals throughout the match, registering 15 wides, while Clare's efficiency in the closing stages made the difference as they held on for a four point victory.Cork play Clare next week in the Munster semi-final and the winners will take on Tipperary in the Munster semi-final. 

Ruairi O'Connor and Mark O'Brien did their utmost to spark a comeback for Limerick, but despite their efforts, Loftus' side ultimately fell short of the scores required to turn the game around.

SCORERS:

LIMERICK: Mark O'Brien (0-10, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65), Robert O'Farrell 1-1, Dara Ferland, Ruairi O'Connor and Hugh Flanagan 0-2 each, Fintan Fitzgerald, Matthew Fitzgerald and Diarmuid Hurley 0-1 each

CLARE: Fred Hegarty (0-7, 0-7 frees), Jack O'Neill 0-6, James Organ and Sean Boyce 0-3 each, Diarmuid Stritch and Michael Collins 0-2 each, James Hegarty (0-2, 0-1 free and 0-1 65), Eoin McMahon and Ronan Kilroy, 0-1 each. 

LIMERICK:Fionn O'Brien; John Murray (Patrickswell), Sean Casey (Bruff), Dan Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Jack Cosgrave (Ahane), Aidan O'Connell (Doon), Darragh Langan (Monaleen);  Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul's), James Finn (Na Piarsaigh); Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen),, Dara Ferland (Monaleen), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane); Mark O'Brien (Mungret St Paul's), Robert O'Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Fintan Fitzgerald (Captain, Mungret St Paul's). 

SUBS: Diarmuid Hurley (Hospital-Herbertstown) for O'Connell (33 minutes), Tadgh Boddy (Dromin-Athlacca) for Duff (40 minutes), Ruairi O'Connor (Feenagh-Kilmeedy) for Finn (45 minutes), Donal Coughlan (Doon) for O'Brien (59 minutes)

CLARE: Mark Sheedy; Eoghan Gunning, John Cahill, Joe Casey; Jamie Moylan, James Hegarty, Eoin McMahon; Robert Loftus, Jack O'Neill; Ronan Kilroy, Diarmuid Stritch, James Organ; Sean Boyce, Fred Hegarty, Michael Collins. 

SUBS: Daniel Costelloe for Loftus (Half-Time), Liam Crotty for Organ (41 minutes), Tadgh Lohan for Fred Hegarty (58 minutes), Fiachra O'Braoin for McMahon (59 minutes). 

REFEREE: Nicky O'Toole (Waterford).