A first Munster SHC victory in Ennis since 1990 was Limerick's reward for a remarkable final quarter backlash as the holders stunned Clare into submission in front a capacity 20,055 crowd in Ennis.
Nothing but a handsome home victory appeared likely when the Banner stretched their five-point half-time advantage to nine by the 52nd minute when resuming with five of the first six points including a brace of Mark Rodgers.
However, there would be an unprecedented sea-change as three goals in the space of seven minutes through Diarmaid Byrnes, Donnacha Ó Dalaigh and Aaron Gillane completed an emphatic twelve-point turnaround.
Outscoring their hosts by 3-06 to 0-03, starting with a fortuitious first goal from a Diarmaid Byrnes free from 65 metres that deceived everyone on its way to the net sparked the visitors into life in the 59th minute.
This was followed by two goals in a minute through substitute Ó Dalaigh and Gillane, both made by the excellent Gearóid Hegarty, ensured a spectacular first defence of their Munster and All-Ireland crowns.
Such a flooring defeat will be difficult to stomach for Brian Lohan’s home side, who seemed to only grow in confidence as the game developed. All that after a strong start by Limerick which saw Gillane denied twice on his way to goal in the first three minutes alone when building up a 0-04 to 0-02 lead.
Clare passed up a goal chance of their own as a Mark Rodgers surge and shot was parried by goalkeeper Nickie Quaid but thanks to Aidan McCarthy’s unerring accuracy from frees, Clare soon went into the ascendancy before soaring into the break when Shane O’Donnell centred to McCarthy to billow the roof of the net at 1-10 to 0-08.
A tentative start to the second period saw Limerick only score one in the third quarter and that through an Gillane free as they incrementally fell further behind to points for Rodgers (2), David Fitzgerald and half-time replacement Seadna Morey, to power 1-15 to 0-09 in front heading into the final quarter.
TWO GOALS FOR LIMERICK!
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 21, 2024
What a turnaround as the All-Ireland champions score two in as many minutes
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Despite the much-heralded introduction of Clare talisman Tony Kelly, it was Limerick that gathered momentum with four unanswered points before a speculative Byrnes free made it all the way to the net, making it 1-16 to 1-13 entering the final ten minutes.
With no Banner backlash, Limerick kept their foot on the gas and would be rewarded when Hegarty punished a defensive mix-up to play in Ó Dalaigh to strike past goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan to snatch the lead at 2-14 to 1-16.
However, the final nail in Clare’s coffin came only a minute later when Hegarty’s powerful strike across goal was finished to the net by Gillane at the back post.
It was the stuff of champions as they now welcome Tipperary next Sunday while Clare must pick up the pieces quickly if they are to remain in the hunt for a third successive Munster final as they travel to Cork.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Mike Casey, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes (1-00, 1-00f), Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes (0-01); William O’Donoghue, Cian Lynch (0-01); Gearoid Hegarty (0-03), Tom Morrissey, Cathal O’Neill (0-02); Seamus Flanagan, Aaron Gillane (1-05, 0-05f), David Reidy (0-02)
Subs: Sean Finn for Casey (5, inj), Donnacha Ó Dalaigh (1-01) for Flanagan (45), Conor Boylan for T. Morrissey (48), Adam English for O’Donoghue (59), Aidan O’Connor for Gillane (67)
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; Darragh Lohan, Cathal Malone; David Fitzgerald (0-02), David Reidy, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy (1-10, 0-08f), Shane O’Donnell (0-01), Mark Rodgers (0-02)
Subs: Seadna Morey (0-01) for Lohan (HT), Tony Kelly (0-02, 0-01f) for Reidy (54), Paul Flanagan for Hayes (58), Shane Meehan for Rodgers (62), Aron Shanagher for Fitzgerald (69)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
