Munster GAA SFC Semi Final – Clare 1-13 Limerick 0-15

Tubridy’s late show decisive

Report from the Irish Independent newspaper

Sunday June 10 2012

Clare 1-13 Limerick 0-15

Clare stumbled across the line with two late David Tubridy scores as they almost threw away a nine-point lead at the Gaelic Grounds. Ian Ryan looked to have been the hero for Limerick with eight second-half points but Clare showed great character to recover from a desperate second-half and reach the provincial decider. Looking for their first Munster final spot in 12 years Clare blasted into the Limerick challenge in the opening 10 minutes, looking more like the team with a championship win already to their name.

Micheal McDermott’s side kicked five points before Limerick hit the target after 15 minutes. In the 23rd minute centre-back Gordan Kelly ran onto a pin-point pass from Shane McGrath, carried from the 45m line and blasted past Brian Scanlon from the edge of the large rectangle for a great Clare goal and a 1-9 to 0-3 lead at the break. Limerick came roaring back in the second-half, inspired by Ryan, and when they edged ahead on 66 minutes Clare looked to have squandered a golden opportunity. Tubridy had other ideas however and the Banner advance to a rare Munster final appearance.

Scorers — Clare: D Tubridy 0-5 (1 ’45’, 1f), R Donnelly 0-3, G Kelly 1-0, S McGrath 0-2, G Brennan 0-1, A Clohessy 0-1, G Quinlan 0-1. Limerick: I Ryan 0-10 (5f), G Collins 0-2, S O’Carroll 0-1, S Kelly 0-1, E O’Connor 0-1.

Limerick: S Scanlon; L O’Dwyer, J Riordan, P Browne; S Lavin, J McCarthy, P Ranahan; T Lee, P Kinnerk; I Corbett, S Kelly, S Buckley; G Collins, S O’Carroll, I Ryan. Subs: J O’Meara for Kinnerk (27), E O’Connor for Kelly (53), J Cooke for Corbett (56), J Donovan for O’Carroll (62), G O’Connell for Buckley (70).

Clare: J Hayes; K Hartnett, S McNelis, L Healy; M McMahon, G Kelly, J Hayes; G Brennan, G Quinlan; S McGrath, E Coughlan, A Clohessy; M O’Shea, D Tubridy, R Donnelly. Subs: S Brennan for Quinlan (58), N Browne for Coughlan (62), D Russell for McGrath (65), B Hartnett for McNelis (66).

Referee: D Fahy (Longford)

Munster GAA Football Championship Semi-Final: Clare 1-13 Limerick 0-15

Report from the GAA.ie web site

Clare sealed a place in the Munster GAA Football Championship final with a dramatic victory over Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening. In an incredible contest, Clare threw away a 10 point lead to let Limerick back into a game they had looked to have absolutely no chance of winning, when early in the second half they trailed by a huge margin. Clare had been 1-9 to 0-3 ahead at half-time, but Limerick produced a brilliant second half performance, and led by Ian Ryan, who hit 0-10, took the lead with just four minutes left.

However, after hitting just two points in the second half up until those dying moments, Clare somehow recovered their composure and hit two late points through David Tubridy to nab the win and break Limerick hearts. The first half belonged to Clare, and Limerick had no answer to their dominance in the opening 35 minutes. They raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead within 10 minutes, Rory Donnelly, Shane McGrath and David Tubridy among their scorers in that exciting opening patch. Limerick looked to have recovered from their poor start when they hit three in a row, Ryan hitting two of them with one of his efforts a superb score fashioned off a wonderful pass from Ian Corbett.

However, midway through the half Clare took over again and two well-taken points from Donnelly were followed by a goal from the Banner men which put them seven ahead. Gordon Kelly got the major, his shot deflecting in past Limerick goalkeeper Brian Scanlon. That made it 1-7 to 0-3 and further scores before the interval from Tubridy and Alan Clohessy left a huge gap of nine in it. Clare hit the first score after the restart as well to go 10 ahead, but then Limerick finally found their groove after that dreadful first half display. They hit six unanswered points between the 37th and 52nd minutes to come right back at Clare, who were unravelling under the Treaty onslaught.

Seamus O’Carroll and Stephen Kelly got the first two, then Ryan knocked over four in a row, three of them frees. Tubridy stopped the rot for Clare with a point on 55 minutes, but Limerick scores followed swiftly from Ger Collins and Ryan to leave just a goal in it with 10 minutes left. By now, Limerick were playing brilliantly, and this time it was Clare who had no answer as scores from Eoghan O’Connor and Ryan (2), incredibly, brought Limerick level.

Ryan then sailed over his tenth point to put Limerick ahead for the first time with less than five minutes to go but inevitably, after such a dramatic game, there was a sting in the tail. Having come back from 10 behind, Limerick were now seemingly set for the most famous of victories but Clare rallied in the dying minutes, and grabbed a win which they looked to have thrown away. Tubridy was their hero, hitting two points, the second in injury time, to send Clare into their first Munster GAA Football Championship final since 2000.

Team News

CLARE (SF v Limerick): Joe Hayes; K Harnett, S McNelis, L Healy; M McMahon, G Kelly, John Hayes; G Brennan, G Quinlan; S McGrath, E Coughlan, A Clohessy; M O’Shea, D Tubridy, R Donnelly
Subs: T Burke, S Brennan, N Browne, D Russell, B Harnett, D Blake, S Haugh, J Dowling, M Foran, T Downes, T Ryan.

Iain Corbett aged 19 makes his first champion start having come on as a substitute in the first round game V Waterford last month, he replaces Eoin Barry. Stephen Kelly who was also a substitute in the Waterford game has recovered from injury and starts in place of Eoghan O’Connor. There are no other changes. Ger Collins (Monaleen) is the team captain.

Limerick Senior Football Team V Clare MSFC Semi-Final on Saturday 9th June 2012.

1. Brian Scanlon, Gerald Griffin’s.

2. Johnny McCarthy, St.Kieran’s.

3. Paudie Browne, Fr. Casey’s.

4. Lorcan O’Dwyer, Pallasgreen.

5. Steven Lavin, Adare.

6. John Riordan, Fr. Casey’s

7. Pa Ranahan, Ballysteen.

8. Thomas Lee, Ballylanders.

9. Paul Kinnerk , Monaleen.

10. Iain Corbett, Newcastlewest.

11. Stephen Kelly, Newcastlewest..

12. Seanie Buckley, Dromcollogher-Broadford.

13. Ger Collins, Monaleen CAPTAIN.

14. Seamus O’Carroll, Cappagh Kilcornan.

15. Ian Ryan, St. Senan’s.

Management Team ; Manager Maurice Horan (Na Piarsaigh) , Selector Joe Lee (Newcastlewest), Selector/Coach Brian Lacey.

For the Record

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship 2012

Quarter-Finals

Sunday May 20^th

@ Pairc na nGael                             Limerick 2-12 Waterford 0-7

Sunday May 27^th

@ Semple Stadium Thurles Kerry 0-16 Tipperary 0-10

Semi-Finals
Saturday June 9^th (Replay date – June 16^th)

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick            Clare v Limerick @ 7:30pm

Sunday June 10^th (Replay date – June 16^th)

@ Pairc Ui Chaoimh                        Cork v Kerry @ 2:00pm

Final

Sunday July 8^th (Replay date – July 14^th)

2:00pm throw-in

Useful Information

Recent Championship meetings

2009 – Limerick 1-13 Clare 1-9 (Semi-Final at Ennis)

2006 – Limerick 2-5 Clare 0-8 (Quarter-Final at Limerick) – first half goals by Michael Crowley and John Galvin helped Limerick to defeat a wasteful Clare side who kicked 15 wides.

2003 – Limerick 2-14 Clare 0-12 (Semi-Final at Ennis)

Clare’s last victory over Limerick in the Munster Senior Football Championship came on June 3^rd 1984 at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on a scoreline of 2-5 to 0-10, a replay after the sides drew at Semple Stadium Thurles a week earlier.

Between 1909 and 1980, Limerick recorded just 1 victory over Clare in the Munster Football Championship – a run spanning 19 matches during which there were 3 draws and 15 victories for Clare.

Since 2000, Limerick have won as many matches in the Munster Senior Football Championship (10) than Tipperary (2), Clare (5) and Waterford (2) combined. Only 3 of those 9 Limerick victories have come at home, against Waterford in 2004 (1-18 to 0-7) and against Clare in 2006 (2-5 to 0-8) and most recently against Waterford (2-12 to 0-7) in the 2012 first round on May 20^th at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick.

Clare have won 1 of their last 7 matches in the Munster Senior Football Championship, a 0-9 to 0-7 victory over Waterford at Cusack Park Ennis in May 2008.

There has been a 57% increase in the number of scores in the last 4 Munster Senior Football Championships – 2008 (21 scores per game), 2009 (24 scores per game), 2010 (28 scores per game), 2011 (33 scores per game).

Cork’s Daniel Goulding was the top scorer in the 2011 Munster Senior Football Championship with 2-16 (0-9 from frees) in three matches. Colm Cooper (Kerry) was second with 0-14 (0-5 frees) while there was a three-way tie for 3^rd place involving Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry – 2-6), Declan O’Sullivan (Kerry – 0-12) and Donnacha O’Connor (Cork – 2-6, 0-3 frees, 1-0 penalty).

2009 Munster Senior Football Semi-Final – Limerick 1-13 Clare 1-9

Clare: D. O’Brien, L. Healy, C. Whelan, D. Ryan, G. Kelly, K. Dilleen, G. Kelly, G. Quinlan, G. Brennan, E. Coughlan, D. Russell (c), P. Reidy, M. O’Shea, T. Ryan, D. Tubridy.

Subs: M. McMahon for D. Ryan, 26; S. Collins for Coughlan, 49; C. O’Connor or Reidy and G. Lynch for Ryan, both 63; N. Considine for Healy, 70. .

Limerick: S. Kiely, J. McCarthy, S. Gallagher, M. O’Riordan, S. Lavin, S. Lucey, P. Ranahan, J. O’Donovan, J. Galvin, P. Browne, I. Ryan, S. Buckley (c), C. Joyce-Power, J. Stokes, G. Collins.

Subs: E. Hogan for Joyce-Power HT; K. O’Callaghan for Stokes, 54; D. Phelan for Buckley (blood) 59-61; T. Cahill for O’Donovan, 72.

Referee: P. McGovern (Galway)

Scorers for Clare: D. Tubridy 0-4 (f’s); G. Brennan 1-0; G. Quinlan 0-2; E. Coughlan, Gordon Kelly and M. O’Shea 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: I. Ryan 0-6 (0-3 f’s); G. Collins 0-3 (0-2 fs), S. Lavin 1-0; S. Buckley, J. O’Donovan, S. Lucey, E. Hogan 0-1 each

2012 Munster Senior Football Championship Matches played to date

Limerick 2-12 Waterford 0-7 – May 20^th @ Gaelic Grounds Limerick (Munster Quarter-Final)

Limerick: B Scanlon; J McCarthy, P Browne, L O’Dwyer; S Lavin, J Riordan, P Ranahan; T Lee, P Kinnerk; E Barry, E O’Connor, S Buckley; G Collins, S O’Carroll, I Ryan
Subs used: I Corbett for Barry (34 mins), J O’Meara for Kinnerk (48), S Kelly for O’Carroll (54), J Cooke for Lee (63), S Lucey for Ranahan (68).

Waterford: K Cotter; M O’Gorman, T O’Gorman, K Connery; W Hennessy, T Grey, S Briggs; S Ahearne, S O’Hare; P Hurney, S Dempsey, C O’Keeffe; T Prendergast, JJ Hutchinson, M Ferncombe
Subs used: J Veale for Ferncombe, P Whyte for Dempsey, S Fleming for Hutchinson (all 60 mins).

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)

Kerry 0-16 Tipperary 0-10 – May 27^th @ Semple Stadium Thurles (Munster Quarter-Final)

Kerry: Brendan Kealy; Shane Enright, Daniel Bohane, Killian Young; Tomás O’Sé, Eoin Brosnan, Peter Crowley; Anthony Maher, Bryan Sheehan; Paul Galvin, Darran O’Sullivan, Kieran O’Leary; Colm Cooper, Declan O’Sullivan, Patrick Curtin.
Subs used: Kieran Donaghy for Galvin (45); Brian Maguire for Young (48 inj); Barry John Keane for Curtin (50); James O’Donoghue for O’Leary (50); Aidan O’Mahony for Brosnan (62).

Tipperary: Paul Fitzgerald ; Andrew Morrissey , Paddy Codd , Ciarán McDonald ; Brian Fox , Robbie Costigan , Alan Campbell ; George Hannigan , Hugh Coghlan ; Lorcan Egan , Peter Acheson , Shane Scully ; Alan Maloney , Michael Quinlivan , Philip Austin
Subs used: Donagh Leahy  for Costigan (26 inj); Richie Ryan  for Scully (48); Bernard O’Brien  for Quinlivan (64); Aldo Matassa  for Hannigan (70+1).

Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo)

2012 Top Scorers – Munster Senior Football Championship

Ian Ryan (Limerick) – 1-7 (0-6 frees)
Bryan Sheehan (Kerry) – 0-6 (0-5 frees)
Seamus O’Carroll (Limerick) – 1-1
Colm Cooper (Kerry) – 0-4 (0-2 frees)
Alan Maloney (Tipperary) – 0-4 (0-3 frees)
Ger Collins (Limerick) – 0-2
Peter Acheson (Tipperary) – 0-2
Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary) – 0-2 frees
JJ Hutchinson (Waterford) – 0-2
Tony Grey (Waterford) – 0-2
Mark Ferncombe (Waterford) – 0-2

Tomás O’Sé (Kerry), Anthony Maher (Kerry), Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry), Kieran O’Leary (Kerry), Declan O’Sullivan (Kerry), James O’Donoghue (Kerry), Stephen Kelly (Limerick), John Cooke (Limerick), Philip Austin (Tipperary), Hugh Coghlan (Tipperary), Shane Ahearne (Waterford)  – 0-1 each

Munster Senior Football Championship – Limerick vs. Clare Past Meetings Breakdown

Note – there were 2 walkovers not included in the table above in 1889 (for Clare) and in 1900 (for Limerick)

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship Roll Of Honour

Kerry (74) – 1892, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011

Cork (36) – 1890, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1906, 1907, 1911, 1916, 1928, 1943, 1945, 1949, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009

Tipperary (9) – 1888, 1889, 1895, 1900, 1902, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1935

Clare (2) – 1917, 1992

Waterford (1) – 1898

Limerick (1) – 1896

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship – List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began 1888 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/sf_teams/

Munster Senior FOOTBALL Cup

No Name – Presented by Munster Council in 1928

All Ireland GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship

In the Senior Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry are top with 36, 13 ahead of the next county – Dublin. Cork are 4^th in the roll of honour with 7 titles. Tipperary have won 4 All-Ireland’s, their last in 1920 while Limerick won the first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship played in 1887 and also won the All-Ireland in 1896.