Clare 0-18 Limerick 0-18
Clare and Limerick played out a stalemate in Ennis as the All-Ireland champions finally got off the mark in this year’s Allianz Hurling League.
With results elsewhere in Division 1A over the weekend, the match was effectively reduced to a dead rubber in terms of League progression with both teams too far back to claim a semi-final spot, though Limerick need a result against Offaly in two weeks time to avoid a relegation play-off.
For the third game running Limerick finished with 14 players as Aaron Gillane was sent off for two bookable offences late in the game, while Clare’s Jack Browne joined him shortly afterwards, also for two yellows.
Limerick fielded a stronger selection after their heavy home defeat to Cork last weekend with Barry Nash, Richie English, Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue and Gillane restored to the starting line-up along with Gearoid Hegarty after his one-match ban.
They quickly established a three-point lead within the opening five minutes and held Clare at arm’s reach for the majority of the first half, though the game failed to ignite as a contest with more than half of the scores in the opening 35-plus minutes coming from placed balls, mainly through the respective full-forwards, Tony Kelly and Aaron Gillane.
Clare looked to have taken the lead in the 21st minute through a David Fitzgerald goal though referee Patrick Murphy disallowed it for a square ball offence and at the break a much-improved Limerick held a 0-11 to 0-9 lead.
Clare were more assertive in the third quarter, however, with Limerick lacking punch up front. Kelly’s third point from play drew the home side level for the first time in the 50th minute before David Fitzgerald put them in front.
