Limerick minor hurlers come up short against Clare in Munster championship

LIMERICK came up short against Clare in round two of the Munster minor hurling championship when losing out 0-15 to 0-9 in Sixmilebridge on Thursday evening.

This was a game where Limerick failed to register a score from play and ultimately that proved to be the difference between the sides. 

Early on both sides struggled for scores and to win primary possession. Clare raced into a two point lead after Liam Murphy and Matthew Corbett were on target. In between that, on the 7th minute play was brought to a halt when Clare captain Marc O'Brien was forced off due to an injury. 

It took Limerick 13 minutes to register their first score of the day through a Jack Cosgrave placed ball. Clare responded with a Matthew Corbett free to have them leading 0-3 -to0-1. After some good work by the Limerick full forward line, Shane Dowling's side had the game back level on 19 minutes. 

Two quick-fire points from Conor Ralph and Patrick Finneran had the Banner county back in front. Cosgrave and Corbett swapped scores between the 22nd and 26th minute to leave the scores at 0-6 - 0-04 in favour of the hosts. 

Clare then outscored the hosts for the remainder of the half 0-3 - 0-2 with a free each from Hurley and Cosgrave keeping the Shannonsiders within touching distance and Clare led 0-09 - 0-6 at the break. 

Limerick came out a different team after the break showing a greater work-rate across the pitch and two quick-fire frees from Hurley had the minimum between the sides. Matthew Corbett put Clare's lead back out to two points shortly after that. Diarmuid Hurley replied with another free and it looked like Limerick were going to push on but that was not to be the case. 

From the 41st minute on, Clare hit the last six points through Matthew Corbett, Paul Rodgers brother of Mark and the inspirational Harry Doherty. 

Late on Matthew Corbett had a penalty after Harry Doherty was fouled inside the small square but Corbett's penalty went to the right and wide. 

Limerick were out-fought in the last quarter and now look forward to hosting Waterford in the Tus Gaelic Ground on the 2nd of May. 

Diarmuid Hurley and Jack Cosgrave were the best performers on a tough night for the Limerick minor hurlers. 

SCORERS: Limerick: Diarmuid Hurley (0-06 frees), Jack Cosgrave (0-3 frees). Clare: Matthew Corbett (0-8, 0-6 frees), Harry Doherty and Paul Rodgers (0-2 each), Conor Ralph, Liam Murphy and Patrick Finneran all (0-1 each). 

LIMERICK: Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Denis Blackwell (Ahane), Daithi Dennehy (Glenroe), Conor Ryan (Ahane), Paul Murphy (Castletown/Ballyagran), Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), Gearoid Enright (Kilmallock),  Diarmuid Hurley (Hospital/Herberstown) (Joint Captain), Jack Cosgrave (Ahane) (Joint Captain), Patrick Cagney (Feohanagh), Eoghan Maher (Monaleen), Tommie Cussack (Murroe/Boher), Danny Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh), Malachy McKenna (Pallasgreen), Jack Fitzgerald (Bruff). Subs: Patrick Kearney (Adare) for Fitzgerald (37 minutes), Gavin Dorgan (Monagea) for Cusack (40 minutes), Liam O'Connor for Gearoid Enright (46 minutes), Conor Ryan (Ahane) for Cagney (53 minutes), John O'Connor (Ahane) for Brosnan (56 minutes). 

CLARE: Matthew Crotty (Scariff), Darren Moroney (Éire Óg), Sean McNamara (Clooney-Quin), Sean Óg Kilkenny (Bodyke), Dara Kennedy (Ballyea), James Cullinan (Ruan), Rian Mulcahy (Éire Óg), Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Matthew Corbett (Clooney-Quin), Darragh McNamara (Clooney-Quin), Patrick Finneran (Clooney-Quin), Harry Doherty (Clarecastle), Conor Ralph (Clarecastle), Marc O’Brien (Cratloe), Liam Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills). Subs: Paul Rodgers (Scariff) for M O'Brien (7 minutes), Jerry O'Connor (Clooney-Quin) for Ralph (45 minutes), Tadgh Lohan (Cratloe) for McNamara (49 minutes), Michael Vaughan (Broadford) for Finneran (56 minutes), Ryan Hayes (Tulla) for Mulcahy (58 minutes)