PHOTOS Limerick Senior Hurlers five-in-a-row Munster Championship win

Limerick Senior Hurlers make it five-in-a-row Munster Championships, defeating Clare in front of a sold-out TUS Gaelic Grounds audience. The Treaty City was awash with green and white for their Munster Final clash at TUS Gaelic Grounds on June 11, 2023. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

Limerick Senior Hurlers make it five-in-a-row Munster Championships, defeating Clare in front of a sold-out TUS Gaelic Grounds audience

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Cian Reinhardt

Limerick Senior Hurlers continue to make history as they won their fifth Munster Championship in a row, defeating Clare in front of a sold-out TUS Gaelic Grounds audience, just the second team to win five-in-a-row in the province.

In what was a classic, Limerick took an early lead with Tom Morrisey opening up the scoring before man-of-the-match Aaron Gillane (1-11 on the day) stretched the lead to two points.

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The lead was short-lived as Clare pushed back with four unanswered points which saw Limerick chasing the game only drawing level for the second time on the 30th-minute mark with a monstrous score from Kyle Hayes.

Despite the inspirational point from distance by Hayes, Clare hit back within a minute with a Mark Rodgers goal, pushing the Banner’s lead to three points, making the scoring Limerick 0-10 to Clare’s 1-10.

Just two more scores in the remaining minutes of the half saw the teams go in at the break: Limerick 0-11 to Clare’s 1-11.

Limerick started the second half with a new wind as David Reidy rallied the team with an opening score bringing it to within two points and Gillanne fired over to shorten the gap to one point.

As close as the Treaty County players could bring the gap to, Clare seemed to always have the answer. The major turning point came from a moment of brilliance from the man of the match. With the score at Limerick 0-14 to Clare’s 1-13, Gillane caught the ball and turned his marker inside out before burying the ball past Clare’s Eibhear Quilligan. Limerick had the lead for the first time since the early minutes of the first half. Limerick 1-14 to Clare’s 1-13.

Again, Clare’s Tony Kelly answered with a levelling score, but an inspired Limerick side pulled back in front with five unanswered score, leaving it Limerick 1-19 to Clare’s 1-14 with 55 minutes played.

Limerick fans in the TUS Gaelic Grounds had their heart in their mouth shortly after extending the gap to five points as Clare bared down on Limerick’s goal, but Nicky Quaid pulled off a great save which was cleared by Limerick, but Clare’s Shane O’Donnell stuck the ball over for Clare’s first point in almost nine minutes. Limerick 1-19 to Clare’s 1-15.

With 14 minutes left to play, Clare came within touching distance of the Treaty men, closing the gap to two points in the 65th minute. Limerick 1-20 to Clare 1-18.

Despite Clare’s resilience, Limerick held on deep into stoppage time, Clare brought the score to Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-22 through Eoin Kelly as the seconds ticked away. The ensuing Limerick attack saw a wide ball followed by confusion as fans stormed the pitch expecting the final whistle after the allotted injury time.

With a scrappy end to the game at midfield, both teams had calls for fouls and Clare felt they could have had an opportunity to level the game, but the Galway referee, Liam Gordon blew his final whistle making Limerick five-in-a-row provincial champions. The second team to ever do so in Munster, and the first since Cork from 1975-1979.

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Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick