Clare hold on for victory

Clare 0-10 Limerick 0-9:CLARE WERE rewarded with the spoils of victory at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday.

The hosts were in control for practically the entire game, but poor shooting by Clare’s forward-line ensured that a poor Limerick outfit were in contention right up to the end.

The Banner registered 15 wides in all, nine of them coming before half-time.

The Shannonsiders trailed 0-5 to 0-3, and 0-8 to 0-3 by the 46th minute, but a number of scores by Ian Ryan and Ger Collins brought it back to 0-10 to 0-9, in injury time, but they failed to bridge the gap and lost Barry Fitzpatrick late in the contest for two yellow card offences.

CLARE: Joe Hayes; B Hartnett, S McNeilis, L Healy; M McMahon, Gordon Kelly, John Hayes; G Brennan (0-1), G Quinlan (0-1); Graham Kelly (0-1), D Tubridy (0-5, 5f), R Donnelly; M O’Shea, S McGrath (0-2), A Clohessy. Subs: S Brennan for Graham Kelly (45 mins); T Ryan for Donnelly (57).

LIMERICK: B Scanlon; L O’Dwyer, J McCarthy, S Lavin; J Riordan, S Lucey, P Ranahan (0-1); S Buckley, B Fitzpatrick; J Cooke, E O’Connor, J O’Meara; G Collins (0-2), S O’Carroll, I Ryan (0-5, 4f). Subs: S Kelly (0-1) for O’Meara (half-time); E Barry for Lucey (48 mins); I Corbett for Cooke (57); G O’Connell for O’Carroll (62).

Referee: B Tyrell (Tipperary).