Clare struggle by Limerick to setup Kerry semi-final

Limerick 0-13 Clare 0-16

Kerry were given little to worry about as Clare struggled their way to a Munster semi-final meeting with the reigning champions by beating Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.

It was close all the way but Limerick will surely regret the opening six minutes during which they had five wides.

Clare were not much better in that department and two of their chances could have brought goals.

After nine minutes there had been nine wides, so understandly when Ian Ryan’s free put Limerick in front after 10 minutes it sparked a rousing cheer.

Cian Sheeehan put over another Limerick point before Cathal O’Connor opened the Clare account.

In what was probably the worst 35 minutes of championship football seen for many a day Clare managed to build a one point halftime lead - 0-5 to 0-4 at the change of ends.

Once Keelan Sexton pointed for Clare on the resumption and Eoin Cleary opened a three point lead shortly afterwards - it was looking ominous for the home side.

In fairness to Limerick they came back and made it 0-8 apiece midway through the second half - but from here on it was Clare who kicked on.

Limerick continued to press matters and Clare goalkeeper Joe Hayes was in the right spot and the right time on two occasions - before Jamie Malone clinched the win with the last point of a disappointing affair.

CLARE: J Hayes; D Ryan, K Hartnett, M McMahon; C O'Dea, G Kelly, S Collins 0-1; G Brennan 0-1, C O'Connor 0-1; J Malone, 0-2, K Sexton 0-2, P Lillis; E Cleary 0-2, D Tubridy 0-3 (2f), P Burke. Subs, P Collins 0-2 for O'Connor (29), S Malone for Kelly (BC 53), S Hickey for O'Dea 57, E Coughlan for Burke (58), S McGrath 0-1 for Brennan (68).

LIMERICK: D O'Sullivam; J McCarthy, P Browne, S Cahill 0-1; B Fanning, S O'Dea, P White; C Sheahan 0-1, D Treacy; G Noonan, P Nash, S Buckley 0-1; I Ryan 0-8 (6f) D Neville 0-2 (1f), S McSweeney. Subs K Ryan for Noonan (55), P Hannon for Fanning (59), C Fahy for White.

Referee: P Neilan, Roscommon.

Waterford 1-7 Tipperary 1-15

Tipperary maintained their Indian sign over Waterford at Fraher Field, defeating a side that last tasted senior football championship success over the Premier in 1988.

Given the lung emptying effort extolled by the hosts in the opening 35 minutes, it was clear that Waterford would have to dig incredibly deep to record a rare Munster Championship win.

That, combined with Tipperary’s greater all-round quality and their deeper range of scorers, made the progress of Liam Kearns’s side to a provincial semi-final meeting with Cork somewhat inevitable.

But, as Kearns justly pointed out afterwards, Tipp will have to crank things up significantly if they’re to land a few punches on the Rebels.

Waterford, who went down to the same opponents by 22 points a year ago in Thurles, were determined to make a better first of it this time around, and were three points up inside seven minutes thanks to Paul Whyte’s accurate free taking.

Tipp opened their account through the dangerous Michael Quinlivan, and he brought the sides level by the end of the first quarter, with a George Hannigan effort sandwiched between both white flags.

Whyte’s successful 45 edged Waterford back in front by the 20th minute, but the imposing Hannigan restored parity within two minutes, in what was the game’s most entertaining period.

Gavin Crotty landed a fine 24th minute point for Waterford, only for Tipp to find an immediate response through captain Peter Acheson, who ended his afternoon with three points. The visitors hit the front for the first time through the impressive Hannigan on the half hour, and Martin Dunne sent them two clear two minutes from the break.

Deep into injury-time, Waterford's Paul Whyte landed an audacious free, some 25 metres from goal, wide on the right flank, but Tipp corner back Colm O'Shaughnessy completed the opening half's scoring.

Tipp had much the better of the second half, adding 1-6 to their tally before Waterford ended a 23 minute wait for a score when Paul Whyte found the net from close range following Joey Veale’s assist.

Prior to that, the Premier has established a stranglehold on this quarter-final thanks to a brace of impressive frees from Kevin O’Halloran, more excellent scoring by skipper Acheson and a 47th minute goal which was conceived somewhat fortunately.

O’Halloran’s point attempt thundered off the post, bouncing into the path of the advancing Quinlivan, whose fisted effort struck the Deise crossbar, only to rebound off corner-back Maurice O’Gorman’s body and into the net. And despite a late rally from Waterford, that own goal effectively brought the contest to a close.

WATERFORD: S Enright; T Ó hUallacháin, T O'Gorman, M O'Gorman; J McGrath, S Prendergast, R Ó Ceallaigh; T Prendergast (0-1), C Curry; M Curry, P Whyte (1-5; 0-3f, 0-1 45), P Hurney; G Crotty (0-1), JJ Hutchinson; L Ó Corraoin.

Subs: C Murray for Hutchinson (HT), J Veale for Crotty (51), M O’Halloran for McGrath (55), B Looby for M Curry (57).

TIPPERARY: E Comerford; C O'Shaughnessy (0-1), A Campbell, C McDonald; B Maher, M Dunne (0-1), S Leahy; A Moloney, G Hannigan (0-3); J Keane, P Acheson (0-3), B Fox (0-1)K O'Halloran (0-2f), M Quinlivan (0-4), P Austin. (M O'Gorman 1-0 OG).

Subs: J Feehan for Leahy (46), I Fahey for Austin (55), B Hewitt for Moloney (62), M Hanley for O’Shaughnessy (70), D Leahy for Fox (72).

Referee: David Gough (Meath)