ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION TWO FINAL Limerick 4-12 Clare 2-13:TWO NAMES must become household for Limerick hurling to prosper once again: Declan Hannon and Kevin Downes. With Séamus Hickey looking regal at centre back and others showing well, particularly captain Gavin O'Mahoney when released from full back, Limerick, after all their turmoil, are showing genuine signs of an upward surge as the summer rolls in.
But in the powerful Leaving Certificate student Hannon and particularly 20-year-old Downes Limerick have unearthed young forwards who can score, and not only when the blood is up but at the most vital moments. Flash to the 50th minute of this gripping battle on Saturday that began with flailing ash all over the field as both sides were desperate to climb out of the hurling purgatory that is Division Two of the Allianz National League.
Clare corner forward Conor McGrath spins and speeds away from Limerick old-hand Damien Reale to plant home a fine goal. Suddenly, they lead 2-11 to 2-8. Even Ger Loughnane, sitting a few seats down from the press row, seems quickened by developments.
John Conlon has come alive at centre forward, rattling off four second-half scores as Clare seem unperturbed by the wind in their faces or the messy goals they conceded in the opening stanza.
Their tall, yet skillful underage sensation Darach Honan has been in the fray since the 15th minute, when Diarmuid McMahon was prematurely withdrawn, questioning the initial selection. Standing at 6ft 6ins, Honan has already danced through the Limerick cover just 27 seconds into the second period to bash home a beautiful goal but now, perhaps spurred on by McGrath’s contribution, he is buzzing through the green defenders again, but must settle for a point. The Banner is rising.
The revival is quashed in an instant as Hannon plunders a goal. Conlon immediately posts his fourth point to keep Clare two clear but that is where their resistance ended. Clare didn’t score again as Limerick streaked away thanks mainly to a brilliant goal from Downes.
Taking the sliotar out on the left, he drops the shoulder and skins full back Conor Cooney, who does enough to present the big full forward with a seemingly impossible angle considering the spread-eagled body of goalkeeper Donal Tuohy. Somehow, the purity of Downes’ strike finds the far top corner of the net.
A Hannon point seconds later makes it 4-11 to 2-13 with the veteran Niall Moran adding another late on to further showcase the number of scoring options Limerick suddenly have at their disposal.
It was late Saturday night when the Clare hurlers emerged from the dressingroom in Cusack Park. From their vacant expressions, a long, sleepless night was to follow.
Safe in the knowledge that another, largely detrimental, Division Two season is to follow, the development of several decent Clare Under-21 players could be permanently stalled. And that is damaging to hurling in general.
The only immediate positive is both teams approach the rigours of the Munster championship with this fierce clash under their belts. “Clare are a Division One team as well and I can’t see why they would hold them back,” said O’Mahoney. “If you are telling me Clare wouldn’t put it up to the other teams in Division One then I’ll eat my hat. I think it is ridiculous. No disrespect to Division Two teams but look at the results they got against Clare, sure, it won’t do them any good either. I think an extra team in Division One would benefit hurling.”
Limerick manager, for this year at least, Donal O’Grady has long been preaching the need for a two groups of six league to ensure the traditional teams are not weakened by illogical structures. “I feel for Clare,” said O’Grady as dusk settled over Ennis.
“They’re going to have to hurl in Division Two for a third year now but when you look at that match there was nothing between the teams.”
The soft-spoken Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin agreed. Last to emerge from the wake that was the Clare team room, he drew upon the obvious positive. “I’m very proud of the way the boys tried tonight. They wanted it badly and we just lost our way in the last six or seven minutes and it cost us.
“Goals win matches and Limerick took them. We need to be playing better teams more often because that’s how young lads improve. Whether that’s going to happen remains to be seen but we have to take our beating tonight and try to bounce back for the championship.”
LIMERICK: N Quaid; D Reale, G O'Mahoney (capt), T Condon; W McNamara, S Hickey, D Breen; D O'Grady (0-1), P Browne (0-2); D Hannon (1-1), R McCarthy (0-4, 0-3 frees), J Ryan; S Tobin (1-1), K Downes (1-2), G Mulcahy. Subs: N Moran (0-1) for S Tobin, P Tobin for R McCarthy, D Maloney for D Breen (both 55 mins).
CLARE: D Tuohy (1-0, og); P Vaughan, C Cooney, D O'Donovan; P Donnellan, C Dillon, P O'Connor; N O'Connell (0-3, 0-2 65s), L Markham (0-1); F Lynch (0-2), J Conlon (0-4), J Clancy; C Ryan (0-2), D McMahon, C McGrath (1-0). Subs: D Honan (1-1) for D McMahon (18 mins), C Morey for C Ryan (58 mins).
Referee: J McGrath(Westmeath).
