Four goals inspire Limerick to Munster Minor Football Championship win over Clare

LIMERICK scored four goals on route to a stunning Munster minor football championship victory over Clare this Thursday evening.

In Miltown Malbay it finished Clare 0-15 Limerick 4-6.

With their championship on the line, following defeat to Tipperary last week, Limerick over-turned a five point deficit just before half time to stun their hosts.

A brace of goals, one in either half from Andrew Lyons, as well as efforts from Tommy Glynn and Adam Murphy sets up another must win clash, with Waterford next Thursday evening.

Despite playing second fiddle for most of the opening half, Limerick trailed by just two points, 0-10 to 2-2, thanks to a 30th minute goal from Lyons after great work from Darragh Hogan.

Clare had four first half points from Gearoid Barry, including three from play. They dominated possession but the Limerick goals dragged them into a contest.

Limerick levelled and then hit the front, with two goals in as many minutes, on 52 and 53 minutes. The first a breaking ball which was prodded home by Adam Murphy. The second from the resultant kick-out, which saw Lyons score from close range, after more tidy work from Hogan. They got an insurance score through Adam Murphy to keep Clare at bay.

Elsewhere this evening, Tipperary made it two wins from two, thanks to a 3-18 to 1-3 victory over Waterford in Thurles.

Limerick face Waterford in the final group game, next Thursday in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale. A win, coupled with a Tipperary success over the Banner will set up a Phase One final next month.

SCORERS: Clare: Gearoid Barry 0-7 (4frees); Daire Culligan 0-3 (1free); Shane O’Connell 0-2; Kaden Deegan-Herlihy, Aidan Weaver, Diarmuid McMahon 0-1 each. Limerick: Andrew Lyons 2-3 (0-3frees);  Adam Murphy 1-1; Tommy Glynn 1-0; Padraic Murphy, Cian Costello 0-1 each.

CLARE: Eoin Byrne (St Breckans); Aaron Killeen (Lissycasey), Conor Hill (Lissycasey), Ronan Fitzpatrick (St Breckans); Aidan Weaver (Lissycasey), Michael Kelly (Lissycasey), Diarmuid Boyle; Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Ben Skerritt (Lissycasey); Darragh Townsend (Cooraclare), Daire Culligan (Lissycasey), Kaden Deegan-Herlihy (Banner); Gearoid Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona), Diarmuid McMahon (Lissycasey), Shane O’Connell (Cooraclare). Sub: Sam Garry (Clondegad) for Skerrit (57mins).

LIMERICK: Sam Guerin (Kildimo-Pallaskenry); Cian O’Sullivan (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Callum Buckley (Athea), James Hunt (Athea); Liam Og Glynn (Ahane), Cathal Woulfe (Fr Caseys), Sam Colgan (Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan); Cian Costello (Cappagh-Rathkeale), Evan Curry (Athea); Adam Murphy (Fr Caseys), Darragh Hogan (Mungret St Pauls), Padraic Phelan (Pallasgreen); Tommy Glynn (Na Piarsaigh), Andrew Lyons (Newcastle West) Padraic Murphy (Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan). Subs: Cillian Meade (St Senans) for Colgan (half-time), Ronan O’Connell for Phelan (40mins), Ross Allen for Hogan (60mins).

REFEREE: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).