Bord Gáis Energy Munster U-21HSF – Limerick v Clare

Clare defeated Limerick by 4-22 to 2-13 in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Wednesday at Cusack Park Ennis.

Ryan raises Banner spirits

Clare 4-22 Limerick 2-13

By Fintan O’Toole for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Thursday, July 16, 2009

AFTER the trauma of their senior team’s championship exit last Saturday, Clare hurling received a badly-needed tonic from their U21 camp last night in Cusack Park. A crowd of 4,692 turned out to watch Clare churn out a scintillating display as they inflicted a serious beating on Limerick in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC semi-final. On a sun-soaked evening, they hurled with authority all over the pitch. Save for one glitch which lead to a Limerick first-half goal, Donal Tuohy was a model of composure between the posts while Eamon Glynn and Ciaran Doherty gave sound defensive performances. At midfield Nicky O’Connell was full of terrific endeavour throughout while Caimin Morey and Darach Honan wreaked havoc at various stages in attack.

But they were all eclipsed by the input of left corner-forward Colin Ryan. The Newmarket-on-Fergus man had endured an ineffectual evening for the county seniors last Saturday yet here he managed to tap a rich vein of form. Ryan departed with a whopping 3-9 total next to his name, shooting points with precision and showing a lethal streak to smash in three goals. Approaching the interval Limerick were only three points adrift when Shane O’Donnell found the net in the 26th minute, but critically they shipped four points before the break. Clare embarked on a scoring spree after half-time and despite the determined efforts of Nicky Quaid, Paul Browne and Sean Tobin, the match wound up being an exercise in damage limitation for the Limerick men.

The game began at a blistering pace and the early scoring rates were quite extraordinary. Having divvied out points to begin with, the teams then unleashed a goal blitz. In the eighth minute Limerick corner-forward Tommy O’Brien placed a bullet into the far corner of the net but the concession never unsettled Clare and their response was devastating. Within 30 seconds Darach Honan had the ball in the net at the other end of the field and two minutes after Clare banged in another with Caimin Morey making the hard yards to create the simple task for Ryan to goal. After that cracking opening, Clare had emerged in healthier shape as the proprietors of a 2-6 to 1-4 advantage.

It had become evident that Clare’s inside forward line were eager for action with Ryan and Honan seemingly incapable of missing the target. Limerick did get an opportune boost through that O’Donnell goal in the 26th minute, after Tommy O’Brien had pressurised Tuohy into dropping the ball. But they failed to build on it and Clare rattled off four late first-half points to lead 2-14 to 2-7. Limerick needed a spirited and productive opening to the second-half in order to retrieve the situation. They tried to perform corrective surgery by shuffling their defensive cards and introducing captain Brian O’Sullivan.

Yet Clare quickly submerged Limerick with a deluge of scores. Ryan rifled over three pointed frees and though Limerick got on the second-half board through a Tobin placed ball, it was Clare’s leading forward who then produced the acts that killed the game off. In the 39th minute Ryan clinically finished to the net from play and in the 42nd minute he rocketed home a penalty after Morey had been fouled. That left it 4-19 to 2-8 in Clare’s favour. Limerick registered points through Browne and Tobin, but there was no disputing Clare’s progress and they’ll make a bold bid in two weeks time to land the county’s inaugural Munster U21 hurling crown.

Scorers: for Clare: C Ryan 3-9 (1-0 pen, 0-5f), D Honan 1-4, C Morey, C O’Donovan, N O’Connell (0-1f) 0-2 each, S Collins, L Markham, C Quinn 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: S Tobin 0-7 (0-7f), T O’Brien 1-2, S O’Donnell 1-1, P Browne 0-2, B O’Brien 0-1.

CLARE: D Tuohy; J Gunning, E Glynn, C O’Doherty; D O’Donovan, C Duggan, E Barrett; N O’Connell, L Markham; J Conlon, S Collins, C O’Donovan; D Honan, C Morey, C Ryan. Subs: C Quinn for Markham (40), E Hayes for Morey (53), P Kelly for Barrett (55), C Tierney for Collins (56), C McGrath for Honan (58).

LIMERICK: B Hennessy; B Moloney, D Lynch, J Riordan; B Quinn, P Begley, P O’Loughlin; N Quaid, J Mann; G Mulcahy, B O’Brien, P Browne; T O’Brien, S Tobin, S O’Donnell. Subs: P O’Brien for Riordan (24), B O’Sullivan for Mann (half-time), D Hannon for O’Loughlin (35), J Hayes for Lynch (43), M Kiely for O’Donnell (57).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).

On-fire Ryan has Banner flying high

From the Irish Independent newspaper

Thursday July 16 2009

SENIOR star Colin Ryan helped himself to 3-9 as Clare crushed Limerick at Cusack Park, Ennis, last night.

After a rip-roaring opening half, the Banner went in at the break ahead by seven points (2-14 to 2-7).

Limerick started brightly and Shane O’Donnell pounced on a mistake by Enda Barrett to set up Tommy O’Brien for a goal.

However, within a minute, the home side responded in kind when lanky corner-forward Darach Honan sent a low shot passed Limerick ‘keeper Barry Hennessy.

Clare grabbed their second goal in the 11th minute when Ryan was fed by Caimin Morey, scoring from the edge of the square.

The Banner county enjoyed a 2-10 to 1-7 lead by the 26th minute, but when goalie Donal Tuohy failed to clear his lines a Shane O’Donnell goal resulted for the visitors. Undaunted, however, Clare hit some late first-half scores to open up a good lead at the break.

From then on it was one-way traffic. Ryan put in a man-of-the-match performance for the winners and two further second-half goals sealed the Shannonsiders fate. He goaled eight minutes after the break and when Morey was taken down by a Limerick defender in the 41st minute, Ryan stepped up to bury the resultant free.

A hapless Limerick had no answer to an on-fire Clare side and a return of 3-9 from their top forward set up a meeting in the decider with Waterford in a fortnight’s time.

Scorers — Clare: C Ryan 3-9 (0-5 f, 1-0 pen), D Honan 1-4, N O’Connell (1f), C O’Donovan, C Morey 0-2 each, S Collins, L Markham, C Quinn 0-1 each. Limerick: S Tobin 0-7 (7f), T O’Brien 1-2 (0-1f), S O’Donnell 1-1, P Browne 0-2, B O’Brien 0-1.

Clare — D Tuohy; J Gunning, E Glynn, C O’Doherty (capt); D O’Donovan, C Duggan, E Barrett; N O’Connell, L Markham; J Conlon, S Collins, C O’Donovan; D Honan, C Morey, C Ryan. Subs: C Quinn for Markham (39), E Hayes for Morey (52), P Kelly for Barrett (53), C Tierney for Collins (55), C McGrath for Honan (58).

Limerick — B Hennessy; B Moloney, D Lynch, J Riordan; B Quinn, P Begley, P O’Loughlin; N Quiad, J Mann; G Mulcahy, B O’Brien, P Browne; T O’Brien, S Tobin, S O’Donnell (capt). Subs: P O Brien for Riordan (24), B O’Sullivan for Mann (h-t), D Hannon for O’Loughlin (34), J Hayes for Lynch (42), M Kiely for O’Donnell (57).

Ref — C McAllister (Cork).

Fixture Details

WEDNESDAY JULY 15th

Bord Gais Energy Munster GAA Under 21 Hurling Championship Semi Final
@ Cusack Park, Ennis
An Clár v Luimneach at 7.30p.m.
Reiteoir – Cathal McAllister (Corcaigh)
Extra Time to be played in the event of a Draw

Team News

Limerick U21 Management announce their side to meet Clare

Munster U-21 Semi-Final – Limerick v Clare

1. Barry Hennessy Kilmallock

2. Brian Moloney Blackrock

3. David Lynch Na Piarsaigh

4. John Riordan Templeglantine

5. Bryan Quinn Ballybrown

6. Pat Begley Mungret

7. Philip O’Loughlin Kilmallock

8. Nicky Quaid Effin

9. James Mann Patrickswell

10. Graeme Mulcahy Kilmallock

11. Bobby O’Brien Bruff

12. Paul Browne Bruff

13. Tommy O’Brien Patrickswell

14. Sean Tobin Murroe/Boher

15. Shane O’Donnell (Capt) Kilmallock

16. Jonathan Hayes Ahane

17. Jason Hayes Bruff

18. Declan Hannon Adare

19. Shane Mullane Bruree

20. Paudge Behan Croom

21. Bryan O’Sullivan Kilmallock

22. Paudie O’Brien Kilmallock

23. Michael Kiely Ballybrown

24. Tiernan Ryan Dromin/ Athlacca

Manager – Leo O’Connor (Claughaun) Selectors – Pat Donnelly (South Liberties), Peter Curtin (Newcastle West), Mick Heelan (Kilmallock)

Team Secretary – Liam O’Sullivan (Claughaun)Doctor – Dr. David Boylan -Physio – Barry Heffernan- First Aid – Sandra Quaid (St. Mary’s / Sean Finn’s)

Clare (U-21H v Limerick) – D Tuohy; J Gunning, E Glynn, C O’Doherty; D O’Donovan, C Duggan, E Barrett; N O’Connell, L Markham; J Conlon, S Collins, C O’Donovan; D Honan, C Morey, C Ryan.