Clare earned their first win of the 2025 Munster Senior Hurling Championship after seeing off Limerick on a 3-20 to 0-24 scoreline at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick still qualify for the provincial final and will face Cork again on Saturday, June 7 at the Ennis Road venue.
John Kiely's men made the early running with Diarmaid Byrnes pointing the way from play after being set up by Declan Hannon.
Seamus Flanagan and Gearoid Hegarty then fired over the bar for Limerick as they raced into a 0-03 to 0-00 advantage.
However, Clare were soon back on level terms as Tony Kelly and Mark Rodgers hit the target with frees.
A sublime Peter Duggan point saw Clare hit the front for the first time on seven minutes, only for Peter Casey to equalise seconds later.
Flanagan put Limerick ahead but four on the trot from Clare saw them 0-08 to 0-05 clear. Cathal Malone (2), David Reidy and Kelly accounting for their scores.
Limerick fought back with Hegarty, Casey and Byrnes raising white flags that saw the game squared up for a fourth time.
It was in the final 10 minutes in the half where Clare began to take control. Directly from an Eamon Foudy puck-out after Byrnes’ free, Rodgers raced on to a breaking ball and fired a low shot into the back of the net.
Rodgers followed up with a free with Tom Morrissey responding for Limerick, but the Clare goal scorer and Rory Hayes pointed before the break to see Clare 1-13 to 0-10 in front.
Rodgers continued his impressive showing with the first score of the second half with Morrissey nailing a repost for the home side.
Reidy and Byrnes then traded blows but two more from Rodgers saw Clare increase their lead to eight with 45 minutes on the clock.
Rodgers then turned provider for Clare’s second goal when he set up Taylor, who buried into the roof of the net.
Kelly stretched their lead to 11 with a point but they failed to register a score in the next 16 minutes.
Limerick scored six of their own in that time but Taylor’s second goal five minutes from the end saw them home to their victory.
Limerick: S Dowling; B Murphy, D Morrissey, M Casey; D Byrnes (0-04, 2f), D Hannon, C Coughlan; D O’Donovan, W O’Donoghue; G Hegarty (0-02), C O’Neill (0-03), T Morrissey (0-07, 5f); S Flanagan (0-02), S O’Brien, P Casey (0-02),
Subs: A English (0-01) for O’Donovan (44), B Nash for Murphy (48, temp), A O’Connor (0-01) for O’Brien (52), D Reidy for Byrnes (59), D Ó Dálaigh (0-01) for Flanagan (61), P O’Donovan for Flanagan (65),
Clare: E Foudy; A Hogan, Dar Lohan, R Hayes (0-01); C Galvin, J Conlon, D McInerney; R Taylor (2-01), C Malone (0-02); T Kelly (0-03), M Rodgers (1-08, 7f), J O’Neill; S O’Donnell, P Duggan (0-02, 2 s/l), D Reidy (0-02).
Subs: Dai Lohan for Dar Lohan (13), I Galvin for Reidy (60), D Ryan for McInerney (64), S Meehan (0-01) for O’Donnell (65), A Shanagher for Duggan (67).
Referee: T Walsh (Waterford).
