As gloom fell on the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick last night both literally and metaphorically, it was Clare who celebrated progress to the Allianz National Hurling League sem-ifinals. They did so by such an emphatic scoreline that Cyril Lyons' team could end up winning the division.
The match was delayed by 15 minutes and when the crowd of 8,540 had settled comfortably, it was obvious Clare were the more wound-up for the game.
Starting methodically they developed an obvious superiority in attack in the first quarter and proceeded to open up Limerick in the second. Hopelessly outgunned, Limerick came back towards the end of the first half but were submerged after the interval.
Clare looked fitter, stronger and sharper. Despite the untaxing nature of such an easy win there were nevertheless impressive signs for the future. Gearoid Considine, out for the whole of last year with a damaged cruciate ligament, was lively and fluent and beside him, Colin Lynch showed evidence of the old abrasive power.
Jamesie O'Connor was in great form on the 40, using the ball intelligently. His ability to lose his man or ride a tackle opened up acres of space which he duly exploited.
Needless to say, the full forwards made hay, amassing 3-8 between them. Barry Murphy's pace caused all sorts of bother and David Forde managed the singular feat of unobtrusively scoring 1-3. Niall Gilligan was superb. Two goals and two points tells its own story. As it became apparent Limerick's bank was completely unattended, Gilligan got score-lust and ignored Tony Carmody and Forde, when each had a goal opportunity. In defence, Clare's captain Brian Lohan gave the large travelling support some vintage moments. In between Brian Begley scrapped gamely with his illustrious opponent.
As early as the fifth minute, you could sense that the home side was in trouble. Barry Foley decided to point a penalty awarded for a foul on Paul O'Grady. Foley did get a goal in the last minutes of the match but by then Limerick needed five.
Goals by Gilligan and Forde irreversibly set the agenda. Trailing by 10 points in the 21st minute, Limerick showed some resistance and ran off five unanswered points - some of them nicely taken by O'Grady, Mark Keane and James Butler. However, Clare led at the break 2-8 to 0- 7.
There wasn't much variation in the second half. A platoon of substitutes came on with a special roar greeting Clare's All-Ireland captain Anthony Daly's first sighting of the year.
Gilligan's second goal came on the hour but by then the home crowd was streaming down the Ennis Road, presumably in fright.
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; C Forde, B Lohan (capt.), F Lohan; L Doyle, J Reddan, D Hoey (0-1); G Considine (0-1), C Lynch (0-1); T Carmody (0-1), J O'Connor (0-6, four frees), A Markham (0-1); B Murphy (0-3), N Gilligan (2-2), D Forde (1-3). Subs: T Griffin (0-2) for Carmody (50 mins), A Daly for Doyle (56 mins); E Flannery for Considine (62 mins); PJ O'Connell for O'Connor (65 mins); B Quinn for F Lohan (66 mins).
LIMERICK: T Houlihan; S McDonagh, TJ Ryan, D Reale; J Foley, M Foley, C Smith; S O'Connor, J Moran (0-1); P O'Grady (0-2), O Moran (0-1), M Keane (0-3, two frees); J Butler (0-2), B Begley (0-1), B Foley (1-1, point from a penalty). Subs: J Meskell for O'Connor (23 mins; B Geary for J Foley (47 mins); O O'Neill (0-2) for Keane (52 mins); W Walsh for McDonagh (60 mins); P Tobin for Butler (66 mins).
Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary).
