Clare came from eight points down at the Gaelic Grounds to seal victory in a gripping Allianz NHL Division 1B final against Limerick.
Shane Dowling’s 43rd minute penalty helped Limerick to lead by 1-14 to 0-9 in front of 9897 spectators before Clare came roaring back.
In stoppage time, Nicky O’Connell (from a 65) and top scorer Conor McGrath, who hit 12 points, scored the late points to seal victory for Clare, winning 0-21 to 1-16. Davy Fitzgerald’s team are promoted to Division 1A and will play Kilkenny in the Division 1 semi-final on 22 April.
The stakes were high this evening as 9897 spectators were royally entertained.
And sparks flew in the first half as rival bosses Fitzgerald and John Allen squared up to each other.
Shortly after, Limerick midfielder James Ryan barrelled into Fitzgerald and was lucky to escape with just a booking.
Afterwards, Fitzgerald indicated to reporters that he felt Clare gained from the touchline skirmish, insisting that Ryan’s focus was taken off his hurling.
Up to that point, Limerick were dominating and particularly at midfield, where Ryan and Paul Browne were calling the tune.
Limerick were six points up twice in the first half and should have had more than a 0-11 to 0-8 lead at half-time.
Tommy Quaid missed a couple of goal chances, hitting his first effort tamely at Nickie Quaid before the Limerick shotstopper with the famous surname produced a remarkable diving save to keep out the corner forward.
Before the break, Sean Collins had a goal chance for Clare at the other end after captain Patrick Donnellan and McGrath, selling a couple of beautiful dummies, created the opening.
This was the fourth time that the near neighbours had met in competitive fare this year – following on from two clashes in the Waterford Crystal Cup and a one-sided Clare victory in the opening round of National League fixtures.
When Clare travelled to the Gaelic Grounds in late February, they inflicted a 14-point defeat on the hosts but John Allen’s charges had improved considerably since then.
It was also a repeat of last year’s Division 2 decider, won by Limerick in Ennis, and spectators arrived to the Gaelic Grounds anticipating a cracking game on an ideal evening for hurling.
They weren’t disappointed as Limerick held sway for long periods against a Clare side held to just two points from play in the first half.
But there was a late twist in the tale as Limerick were left to rue another painful home defeat and as things stand, they face another season in Division 1B.
Limerick scorers: S Dowling 1-7 (1-0 pen, 4f, 1 65), G Mulcahy 0-3, S O’Brien 0-2, J Ryan, N Moran, T Quaid & K Downes 0-1 each.
Clare scorers: C McGrath 0-12 (10f), C Ryan 0-3, N O’Connell 0-3 (2 65s, 1f), P Donnellan, J Conlon & A Cunningham 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; W McNamara, D O’Grady, G O’Mahoney; P Browne, J Ryan; S Dowling, D Breen, C Allis; G Mulcahy, N Moran, T Quaid.
Subs: S O’Brien for Breen (35+3), K Downes for Moran (h.t.), S Tobin for T Quaid (41), M Ryan for Allis (61).
CLARE: P Kelly; D O’Donovan, C Dillon, C Cooney; B Bugler, J McInerney, P O’Connor; N O’Connell, P Donnellan; C Morey, S Collins, E Barrett; C Ryan, C McGrath, J Conlon.
Subs: A Cunningham for Morey (51).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
