Limerick City exit from Celtic Challenge in slender North Clare defeat

LIMERICK City made their exit from the new Celtic Challenge U-17 competition this Saturday afternoon when losing to North Clare 2-20 to 4-13.

The city divisional side lost out in this Division Two All Ireland quarter final tie by just one point with Tom O’Rourke the North Clare winner in injury time in a sun drenched Gaelic Grounds.

A competition for hurlers not on County Minor teams or doing the Leaving Certificate, Limerick City looked like they have forced extra time until the late North Clare winner.

North Clare were 1-14 to 1-8 ahead at half time.

North Clare went 0-6 to 0-1 clear after nine minutes but an eighth minute Ken Byrnes goal saw Limerick City find their way into the game and points from Rory Duff, Glen Hannon and Killian O’Reilly had Limerick City 1-6 to 0-6 ahead at the mid-point of the first half.

But North Clare bossed the closing stages of the half to leave by six at the break with David Mescell getting their goal in the dying seconds of the half.

Limerick City had three second half goals but it wasn’t enough and a tally of 10 wides was to prove key.

A Paudie Maher goal 10-minutes into the second half left it 1-15 to 2-9 but it was Rory Duff’s goal in the game’s 45th minute that had Limerick City ahead, 3-11 to 1-16.

But North Clare replied impressively and a Breffini Horner goal moved them 2-19 to 3-12 ahead with seven minutes to play.

Sub Conor Lynch had the fourth Limerick City goal and when Duff pointed it looked like extra time would be needed until the late North Clare winner.

SCORERS - Limerick City: Rory Duff and Ken Byrnes (0-1free) 1-3 each, Paudie Maher and Conor Lynch 1-0 each, Killian O’Reilly 0-3, Glen Hannon 0-2, Liam Harrington and Brian Garry 0-1 each. North Clare: Tom O’Rourke 0-7 (3frees), Breffini Horner 1-3, David Mescall 1-2, Eoin Fitzgerald 0-3, Niall Moloney 0-2, Alan Culligan, Conor Kearns and Colin Haugh 0-1 each.

LIMERICK CITY: Ger Kennedy (Na Piarsaigh); David Moloney (Monaleen), Ciaran Barry (Ahane), Padraig Heaney (Na Piarsaigh); Sean Teefey (Ballybricken-Bohermore), Conor Hellewell (Mungret St Pauls), William Brennan (Ahane); Paudie Maher (Patrickswell), Ruben McCarthy (Na Piarsaigh); Glen Hannon (Old Christians), Rory Duff (Mungret St Pauls), Killian O’Reilly (Patrickswell); Ken Byrnes (Old Christians), Liam Harrington (Mungret St Pauls), Andrew Walsh (Murroe-Boher). Subs: Brian Garry (South Liberties) for Andrew Walsh (26mins), Calvin Morris (St Patricks) for Glen Hannon (43mins), Conor Lynch (Mungret St Pauls) for Liam Harrington (48mins).

NORTH CLARE: Ronan Callinan (Kilmaley); Sean Crowley (Kilmaley), Fergal Kearney (Tulla), Sean Murphy (O’Calllaghan Mills); Darragh O’Shea (St Josephs Doora-Barefield), Cian Minogue (Bodyke), Cathal Doyle (Bodyke); Alan Culligan (Clooney Quinn), Conor Kearns (St Josephs Doora-Barefield); Tom O’Rourke (Kilmaley), Breffini Horner (Crusheen), Eoin Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona); David Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona), Darren Culligan (Inagh-Kilnamona), Niall Moloney (Smith O’Briens). Subs: Conor Cahill (Kilmaley) for Darragh O’Shea (18mins), Colin Haugh (Ruan) for David Mescall (h-t), Scott Currid (St Josephs Doora-Barefield) for Darren Culligan (h-t), Aaron O’Brien (Ennistymon) for Eoin Fitzgerald (39mins).

REFEREE: Joe Larkin (Cork).