Limerick ease into final after extra-time thriller
 By
DAVID THORPE
Limerick sent a warning to rest of the hurling world with this epic win
their 15th straight victory as they advanced to the league final when
defeating a robust Clare outfit.
At one stage in the second-half the Treatymen were eight points behind
and on the ropes but phenomenal fitness and a will to win saw them dominate
extra time.
Mark Keane turned in another outstanding performance with a personal tally
of 2-10 including a penalty to set his side on their way.
His second goal in which he outfielded Brian Lohan to a high ball was
emblematic of the strength which flows through this Limerick team.
Those goals came in the opening 15 minutes but the balance of play wasn’t
long shifting Clare’s way.
Clipping over a series of concise points the Bannermen got some merited
good fortune on 28 minutes, when Limerick netminder Brian Murray dropped
a Diarmuid McMahon sideline cut into his own net.
Limerick were held scoreless for the 18 minutes up to half-time at which
point Clare led 1-10 to 2-4.
Eight minutes into the second-half Clare spirits rose even higher when
Niall Gilligan finished a flowing move to the net following good work
from the excellent Fergal Lynch.
Limerick were suddenly eight points in arrears.
Brian Begley charged at the Clare rearguard and earned a 20-metre free.
Mark Keane’s effort wasn’t properly cleared by the Banner
defence and Begley scrambled home the rebound.
A barrage of points followed from Keane, Andrew O’Shaughnessy and
Niall Moran to leave the minimum in it with just minutes left.
Davey Fitzgerald reached to his left to produce a wondrous save from Steven
Lucey as the Semple Stadium clock ticked the time away.
The ensuing 65 was coolly dispatched by Keane and extra-time loomed with
few in the small crowd complaining.
Limerick manager Joe McKenna took the opportunity to put on fresh legs
and was rewarded for his courage when seeing four of his side’s
five points in the first-half of added time contributed by subs —
the best of these coming through Donal Maloney.
The Treatymen led by a point at the end of the first period of extra-time
but Clare were physically wilting as day gave way to evening in the lush
Tipperary sky.
The second-half of extra time yielded just two points both to Limerick
so it is they who advance to their first league final since ‘97.
Limerick have added an extra hardness in defence which has been missing
in recent seasons and are now a formidable outfit which few teams will
want to face come championship time. |
