Micheál Houlihan enjoyed a dream debut as his 12 points helped Limerick to steamroll Clare for the best part of an hour before the Banner added some late respectability to what was a six-point hammering.
The son of former Limerick midfielder Mike couldn't have imagined a better first day out in the number 12 jersey before the 15,521 in attendance. He had three points from play inside seven minutes and set up another for Cian Lynch in between.
A minute later, he was the Limerick free-taker when David Reidy went off injured. He missed two of his first three placed balls but still ended with 0-12, eight frees.
His finest moment of magic came in the 66th minute, though. His over-the-head flick sent Adam English into space and he squared for Donnacha Ó Dálaigh to score his first goal for Limerick.
Shane O’Brien was another to impress on his first start, scoring two points and winning three frees for Houlihan to tap over. Ciarán Barry (a late replacement for Colin Coughlan, who twisted his ankle during the week) also got his first league start, while Fergal O’Connor’s outing ended when receiving a knock to the head before half-time.
There were more established stars returning too, with Lynch named captain for his first start in 10 months and Peter Casey back for a first start since the 2021 All-Ireland final, while Kyle Hayes scored three points on his return to the half-back line.
Clare made six changes to their matchday panel announced on Friday night. Rory Hayes and Paddy Donnellan came in to start while on the bench, Tony Kelly, John Conlon, Brandon O’Connell, and Keith Smyth didn’t tog out.
In an almost carbon copy of last week’s first-half scoreline against Cork, Limerick levelled their opponents for 0-16 while conceding eight scores (0-08 against Cork, 1-07 against Clare). Just 1-01 of Clare’s total came from open play.
Unlike last week, Limerick had enough gas to go for an hour before Clare outscored them by 1-09 to 1-01 to the final whistle.
Limerick held Clare scoreless from play for the first 18 minutes and the last 18 minutes of the half, including the three minutes of stoppage time, as well as the first 19 minutes of the second half before their late revival.
The Limerick defence had the Clare forwards beaten all ends up and were able to work the ball from one side to the other at their leisure.
Hayes wandered forward for a point, while Lynch (0-01) and Gearóid Hegarty (0-02) were adding to Clare’s half-back line problems alongside Houlihan, scoring three points and setting up eight more between them.
It was 0-10 to 0-04 before Clare had their first score from play. They had threatened a goal earlier when Aidan McCarthy cracked the crossbar. They didn’t miss the second time around. Peter Duggan broke a dropping ball and Ian Galvin guessed the right way, losing his marker, and firing past Nickie Quaid who got his hurl to the shot but couldn’t keep it out.
David Fitzgerald added Clare’s first point from play but a two-point gap was as close as Clare would get. Limerick landed points from substitute English, Casey, and Hegarty, whose low shot had Eibhear Quilligan diving as it whistled over the crossbar.
It was more of the same in the second half. Hayes came forward for Limerick’s first two points and Houlihan added four more frees, while O’Brien was cheered off the field after his contribution. It was a similar ovation to that received by Hegarty and Lynch minutes later.
It was the 54th minute before Clare had their third score from play, a McCarthy point. By that stage, it was 0-24 to 1-09.
Tom Morrissey, on for O’Brien, scored with his first two touches. By contrast, Clare’s subs didn’t have it as easy. It was Kilmacud Crokes all over again when Conor Leen entered as a 16th man for his debut, although James Owens didn’t allow play to continue and booked Leen before he could officially make his entrance.
David Reidy did make an impact when introduced for Clare, winning two frees for McCarthy to convert and adding two fine points of his own as the Banner reeled off four points in a row.
That run was ended decisively by Ó Dálaigh but as Limerick eased off the throttle, there was still time for Reidy to strike a goal at the other end, while McCarthy rattled over three points from play to take his tally to 0-13.
LIMERICK: N Quaid; F O’Connor, R English, S Finn; C Barry, D Morrissey, K Hayes (0-03); D O’Donovan, D Reidy; G Hegarty (0-02), C Lynch (capt) (0-01), M Houlihan (0-12, 8f); S O’Brien (0-02), S Flanagan, P Casey (0-03).
Subs: A English (0-02) for Reidy (8 inj), A Costello for O’Connor (31 inj), D Ó Dálaigh (1-00) for O’Brien (52), T Morrissey (0-02) for Hegarty (53), G Mulcahy for Lynch (61), J Quilty for Hayes (66).
CLARE: E Quilligan; R Hayes, C Cleary (capt), S Morey (0-01); D Ryan (0-01), D McInerney, A Fitzgerald; C Malone, P Donnellan; D Fitzgerald (0-01), D Conroy, A McCarthy (0-13, 9f); M Rodgers, P Duggan, I Galvin (1-00).
Subs: R Mounsey for Rodgers (27-30, blood), R Mounsey for Donnellan (31), A Shanagher for I Galvin (50), C Galvin for A Fitzgerald (50), D Reidy (1-02) for Rodgers (57), C Leen for D Fitzgerald (59).
Referee: J Owens (Wexford).
