
LIMERICK remain unbeaten in the Munster Hurling Championship after a 1-21 to 0-24 draw with Clare in Cusack Park in Ennis. The sides will now meet again in the Munster Final following Corkโs win over Waterford.
Diarmaid Byrnes landed a long range free in added time to level the game for a 14thย time before referee Colm Lyons blew the full time whistle.
The Treatymen will leave Ennis feeling aggrieved to say the least after Gearoid Hegarty was sent off for two harsh yellow cards, while there were plenty of other decisions that will be discussed at length in the coming days.
Limerick fired over the first two points courtesy of a Diarmaid Byrnes โ65 and a Seamus Flanagan point from play.
David Fitzgerald and the first of Tony Kellyโs 12 first half points soon had Clare back on level terms after eight minutes.
John Kielyโs men were soon back in the ascendency with a superb Gearoid Hegarty score and a Byrnes free.
Byrnes landed another placed ball in between two Kelly frees that left the score at 0-5 to 0-4 in Limerickโs favour after 12.
The Clare number 11 then fired over two further frees to put his side ahead before Limerick hit the back of the net thanks to Kyle Hayes.
Conor Boylan made a great catch and raced through on goal but was well hooked on the 21 metre line. Boylan then recovered possession and found Hayes who did the necessary from close range.
Clare didnโt panic, however, with two further Kelly frees levelling the contest for a third time.
Fitzgerald and Diarmuid Ryan then landed two from play for Brian Lohanโs men that saw them 0-10 to 1-5 clear.
As you would expect, Limerick lifted their game again with a David Reidy free and a wonderful Byrnes effort from play squaring the game for a fourth time.
Kelly then gave a further example of his prowess from placed balls with three on the bounce. Byrnes responded in kind with two of his own with Hegartyโs second of the half levelling the game once more.
Tom Morrissey and David Reidy finished the scoring for Limerick in the opening half but Kelly responded to both scores to leave the score at 1-12 to 0-15 at the break.
The teams could not be separated in the opening stages of the second half but two more from Kelly edged Clare ahead.
Limerick remained patient with Hegartyโs fourth of the game and another Byrnes free squaring the game for the 11thย occasion on 57 minutes.
It was all square again in the closing stages when Hegarty was shown a second yellow card for what was deemed a strike by referee Lyons.
The harsh call didnโt deter Limerick with Darragh OโDonovan nailing a score to put Limerick one in front.
A controversial Shane Meehan point levelled once more but the score should not have stood as there was a clear pull on Sean Finnโs hurley by Shane OโDonnell in the build up.
Ryan Taylor had Clare in a winning position heading into added time only for a ninth score from Byrnes seeing the game end in a draw.
Scorers โ Limerick:ย Diarmaid Byrnes 0-9 (7f, 1โ65), Gearoid Hegarty and David Reidy (4f) 0-4 each, Kyle Hayes 1-0, Seamus Flanagan, Tom Morrissey, Oisin OโReilly and Darragh OโDonovan 0-1 each.
Scorers โ Clare:ย Tony Kelly 0-16 (10f, 1โ65), David Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Ryan and Ryan Taylor 0-2 each, David McInerney and Shane Meehan 0-1 each.
Limerick:ย Nickie Quaid (Effin); Sean Finn (Bruff), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon (Adare, captain), Dan Morrissey (Ahane); Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock), William OโDonoghue (Na Piarsaigh); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrickโs), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca).
Subs:ย Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for Boylan (53), Darragh OโDonovan (Doon) for Hanley (57), Oisin OโReilly (Kilmallock) for Flanagan (57).
Clare:ย Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Jason McCarthy; Cathal Malone, Tony Kelly, Shane OโDonnell; Robyn Mounsey, Peter Duggan, Ryan Taylor.
Subs:ย Shane Meehan for McCarthy (h-t),ย ย David Reidy for Mounsey (47), Aron Shanagher for Duggan (73).
Referee:ย Colm Lyons (Cork)
The post Byrnes late free earns Limerick a draw with Clare in Ennis appeared first on Sporting Limerick.