Munster SHC: Limerick cruise to victory
Limerick's Diarmaid Byrnes celebrates after scoring a first half goal against Clare in the Munster SHC. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Limerick 2-30 Clare 1-18
By Cian O'Connell at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg
Suddenly, the 2026 Munster SHC appears a lot brighter for Limerick.
John Kiely's outfit cruised to a surprisingly emphatic victory in Ennis to claim the full complement of spoils. With two home matches remaining, Limerick will relish the upcoming weeks.
For Clare, this was a bitterly disappointing afternoon. The drama and fireworks of the Waterford encounter at the same venue a fortnight previously couldn't be replicated because Limerick were primed for a battle.
Having lost narrowly against Cork, the visitors thundered into this contest accumulating a 1-8 to 0-4 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. Clare simply couldn't recover.
Physical and purposeful, Limerick dictated the agenda. Aidan O'Connor concluded the game with a 1-9 haul, while the excellent Shane O'Brien mined six from play.
It was that sort of day for an efficient Limerick team, who struck 2-30 from 44 shots, illustrating their admirable accuracy. In contrast, Clare finished with 1-18 from 35 attempts.
Limerick's defensive unit was secure and when Clare manufactured goal opportunities, Nickie Quaid denied Mark Rodgers with splendid saves in each half.
Initially, Shane O'Donnell, who was wholehearted for Clare, and Mark Rodgers (free) clipped points, but Limerick soon seized control.
A Peter Casey point was briskly followed by a fourth minute Aidan O'Connor goal. William O'Donoghue, Peter Casey, and Barry Nash were involved in a slick build up.
Limerick were 1-8 to 0-5 ahead midway through the half when a penalty was awarded following an Adam Hogan foul on O'Brien. Hogan was black carded before Diarmaid Byrnes converted the penalty expertly.
When the interval rolled around Limerick's lead was healthy, 2-15 to 0-8.
There was a Clare burst in the third quarter with Mark Rodgers supplying scores as the deficit was reduced to 2-18 to 0-14. Limerick were unperturbed.
Byrnes, Peter Casey, O'Brien (2), and Cathal O'Neill all landed sweet points from play for Limerick.
With nine minutes remaining, Tony Kelly goaled a penalty, following a Nash foul on the Ballyea clubman.
There wasn't a hint of a comeback, though, as Limerick closed out the deal with the minimum of fuss. O'Connor, O'Brien, O'Neill, and substitute Fintan Fitzgerald supplied points in the closing stages.
Clare's trip to Thurles on Saturday week, May 16, will be a revealing match for both counties. The next day, Limerick host Waterford.
Scorers for Limerick: Aidan O'Connor 1-9 (6fs), Shane O'Brien 0-6, Diarmaid Byrnes 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f), Cathal O'Neill and Peter Casey 0-3 each, Gearoid Hegarty and Barry Nash 0-2 each, Adam English, Tom Morrissey, and Fintan Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Mark Rodgers 0-10 (7fs, 1 65), Tony Kelly 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f, 165), David Reidy, Shane O'Donnell, Jack O'Neill, Niall O'Farrell, Diarmuid Ryan, and Ian Galvin 0-1 each.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Barry Nash, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O'Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Darragh O'Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Cathal O'Neill, Tom Morrissey; Aidan O'Connor, Shane O'Brien, Peter Casey.
Subs: David Reidy for O'Brien (24-27), David Reidy for Morrissey (54), Dan Morrissey for Finn (59), Ethan Hurley for O'Donovan (63), Fintan Fitzgerald for P Casey (69), Hugh Flanagan for O'Neill (70+3).
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan; Diarmuid Ryan, Niall O'Farrell, Cathal Malone; Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor; Seán Rynne, David Reidy, Tony Kelly; Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan, Shane O'Donnell.
Subs: Diarmuid Stritch for Kelly (6-7), Jack O'Neill for Rynne (HT), David McInerney for Cleary (42), Diarmuid Stritch for Reidy (42), Ian Galvin for Rodgers (63).
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
