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May 3 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)

Competition:

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Description:

Limerick defeated Clare by 2-30 to 1-18 in Round 3 of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday May 3rd at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg.

Match Highlights

Munster SHC: Limerick cruise to victory

Limerick 2-30 Clare 1-18

Report By Cian O’Connell at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg for GAA.ie

Suddenly, the 2026 Munster SHC appears a lot brighter for Limerick.

John Kiely’s outfit cruised to a surprisingly emphatic victory in Ennis to claim the full complement of spoils. With two home matches remaining, Limerick will relish the upcoming weeks.

For Clare, this was a bitterly disappointing afternoon. The drama and fireworks of the Waterford encounter at the same venue a fortnight previously couldn’t be replicated because Limerick were primed for a battle.

Having lost narrowly against Cork, the visitors thundered into this contest accumulating a 1-8 to 0-4 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. Clare simply couldn’t recover.

Physical and purposeful, Limerick dictated the agenda. Aidan O’Connor concluded the game with a 1-9 haul, while the excellent Shane O’Brien mined six from play.

It was that sort of day for an efficient Limerick team, who struck 2-30 from 44 shots, illustrating their admirable accuracy. In contrast, Clare finished with 1-18 from 35 attempts.

Limerick’s defensive unit was secure and when Clare manufactured goal opportunities, Nickie Quaid denied Mark Rodgers with splendid saves in each half.

Initially, Shane O’Donnell, who was wholehearted for Clare, and Mark Rodgers (free) clipped points, but Limerick soon seized control.

A Peter Casey point was briskly followed by a fourth minute Aidan O’Connor goal. William O’Donoghue, Peter Casey, and Barry Nash were involved in a slick build up.

Limerick were 1-8 to 0-5 ahead midway through the half when a penalty was awarded following an Adam Hogan foul on O’Brien. Hogan was black carded before Diarmaid Byrnes converted the penalty expertly.

When the interval rolled around Limerick’s lead was healthy, 2-15 to 0-8.

There was a Clare burst in the third quarter with Mark Rodgers supplying scores as the deficit was reduced to 2-18 to 0-14. Limerick were unperturbed.

Byrnes, Peter Casey, O’Brien (2), and Cathal O’Neill all landed sweet points from play for Limerick.

With nine minutes remaining, Tony Kelly goaled a penalty, following a Nash foul on the Ballyea clubman.

There wasn’t a hint of a comeback, though, as Limerick closed out the deal with the minimum of fuss. O’Connor, O’Brien, O’Neill, and substitute Fintan Fitzgerald supplied points in the closing stages.

Clare’s trip to Thurles on Saturday week, May 16, will be a revealing match for both counties. The next day, Limerick host Waterford.

Post-Match Interview with Man of the Match Nickie Quaid

Scorers for Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 1-9 (6fs), Shane O’Brien 0-6, Diarmaid Byrnes 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f), Cathal O’Neill and Peter Casey 0-3 each, Gearoid Hegarty and Barry Nash 0-2 each, Adam English, Tom Morrissey, and Fintan Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Mark Rodgers 0-10 (7fs, 1 65), Tony Kelly 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f, 165), David Reidy, Shane O’Donnell, Jack O’Neill, Niall O’Farrell, Diarmuid Ryan, and Ian Galvin 0-1 each.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Barry Nash, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Cathal O’Neill, Tom Morrissey; Aidan O’Connor, Shane O’Brien, Peter Casey.
Subs: David Reidy for O’Brien (24-27), David Reidy for Morrissey (54), Dan Morrissey for Finn (59), Ethan Hurley for O’Donovan (63), Fintan Fitzgerald for P Casey (69), Hugh Flanagan for O’Neill (70+3).

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan; Diarmuid Ryan, Niall O’Farrell, Cathal Malone; Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor; Seán Rynne, David Reidy, Tony Kelly; Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan, Shane O’Donnell.
Subs: Diarmuid Stritch for Kelly (6-7), Jack O’Neill for Rynne (HT), David McInerney for Cleary (42), Diarmuid Stritch for Reidy (42), Ian Galvin for Rodgers (63).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).

Pre-Match Entertainment

Team News

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Darragh O’Donovan; Cathal O Neill, Aidan O’Connor, Tom Morrissey; Gearóid Hegarty, Shane O’Brien, Peter Casey.
Subs: Colin Ryan, Colin Coughlan, Fintan Fitzgerald, Matthew Fitzgerald, Hugh Flanagan, Ethan Hurley, Dan Morrissey, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Paddy O’Donovan, David Reidy, Eddie Stokes.

CLARE: Éibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan; Diarmuid Ryan, Niall O’Farrell, Cathal Malone; Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor; Tony Kelly, David Reidy, Sean Rynne; Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan, Shane O’Donnell.
Subs: Eamonn Foudy, John Conlon, Shane Meehan, David McInerney, Cian Galvin, Jack O’Neill, Diarmuid Stritch, Daithí Lohan, Ian Galvin, Conor Leen, Senan Dunford

Traffic Management & Matchday Information

Fixture: Clare v Limerick
Competition: Senior Hurling Munster Hurling Championship – Round 3
Date: Sunday, 3 May 2026
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Match Information

  • Attendance: 20,800 – fully sold out
  • Stiles Open: 12:00hrs
  • Throw-in: 14:00hrs

Parking Information

  • No parking permitted in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, except for vehicles with official parking passes.
  • Parking passes for Glór Theatre and Clare FM Studios must access via the Causeway Link Road (Templegate Roundabout).
  • Vehicles with valid passes are advised to arrive before 13:00hrs.
  • Pedestrian traffic will be prioritised post-match. Vehicles within the cordon area may be delayed for up to 40 minutes.

Access to Ennis

  • Junction 11 (Dromoland)
  • Junction 12 (Clareabbey)
  • Junction 13 (Tulla Road) – heaviest congestion expected pre and post match
  • Junction 14 (Barefield) – lightest traffic volume

Post-match egress is recommended via Junctions 12 and 14.

Public Parking Facilities

  • Clare County Council Offices, New Road, Ennis (V95 DXP2) – Free parking
  • Clare Marts (V95 APF2) – Parking operated by Crusheen GAA – €5
  • Holy Family School, Station Road, Ennis (V95 YR79) – Supervised parking (€5 nominal fee)
  • Abbey Street / Parnell Street / Market Car Parks
  • Legal on-street parking where available

Disability & Mobility Parking

A limited number of disability/mobility parking passes are available and are issued via the Clare and Limerick County Boards.

Traffic Restrictions Close to the Stadium

  • No match traffic permitted on Francis Street, except for permit/pass holders.
  • Vehicle access from the Clon Road to Francis Street limited to residents and shoppers accessing Tesco and Aldi.
  • Shopper access may be restricted during peak supporter movement times (13:00–14:00hrs and 15:30–17:00hrs).
  • Inbound parking on Tulla Road fully restricted to facilitate post-match egress to Junction 13.

Traffic Enforcement

Illegal parking will be enforced by Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) and/or towing where deemed appropriate.

Particular Garda attention will be paid to poor parking in residential areas off New Road, Lifford Road, Clon Road and Tulla Road. Vehicles parked in Garda “No Parking” coned areas will receive a fixed charge penalty notice.

Rail Travel – Iarnród Éireann

The following trains from Ennis to Limerick are fully booked:

  • 09:39hrs
  • 11:24hrs
  • 13:07hrs

Ticket Entry Points

  • Stiles 1–20: Tesco Side – Francis Street
  • Stiles 21–24: Friary Lane (opposite Poor Clares) – Francis Street
  • Stiles 25–40: Garda Station Side – Abbey Street

Terrace & Stand Access

  • North Terrace / Stand: Stiles 1–6 and 33–40
  • East Terrace (Aldi): Stiles 7–14
  • South Stand / Sideline Seating: Stiles 15–24
  • West Terrace (Cloister): Stiles 25–32

Alcohol Policy

Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg is an alcohol-free stadium. Patrons who present intoxicated or in possession of alcohol will be refused entry under stadium regulations and Sections 21 and 22 of the Public Order Act 1994.

Flares & Smoke Bombs

Patrons attempting to enter the stadium with any form of pyrotechnics will be refused entry in accordance with stadium regulations.

Any person who ignites a flare or smoke bomb inside the stadium will be ejected and prosecuted under Section 68(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Penalties include a fine of up to €2,500 and/or up to six months imprisonment.

Broadcast Details:

Venue:

  • Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg