*Limerick GAA news/discussion thread*

Limerick 1-10 Clare 0-10

By Fintan O’Toole

Thursday, March 11, 2010

FOR the majority of last night’s Cadbury’s Munster U21FC quarter-final in Cooraclare, Limerick full-forward Cormac Joyce-Power’s role entailed aiding his colleagues out the field. But, when stationed close to goal late on, his impact was decisive in settling this game. As his side trailed 0-8 to 0-9 in the final stages, the Limerick senior player made his telling contribution. In the 52nd minute he touched down a pass from Bobby O’Brien into the path of Seamus O’Carroll, collected the return and neatly tucked a shot into the bottom corner of the net. Suddenly Limerick were in the ascendancy for the first time since the fourth minute and Clare, who had hitherto controlled proceedings, were in the uncomfortable position of being on the backfoot.

O’Carroll tacked on another point for Limerick, and although Clare full-forward Gary Leahy maintained the high standards of accuracy that had characterised his freetaking all night, with a point in the 58th minute, it was Joyce-Power who had the final say. He seized possession in open space around the middle in the 52nd minute before striding forward to hit a marvellous long-range effort between the posts to seal Limerick’s advance to a last four meeting with Tipperary next Thursday night in Semple Stadium. That strong late finish capped a wonderful recovery from Limerick as for much of the night they looked listless against a forceful and energetic Clare side. A frozen Gaelic Grounds pitch meant Limerick had to cough up home advantage as the tie was switched to the West Clare venue early yesterday and Clare looked adapted better to familiar surroundings in the first-half.

Limerick struck two early blows with points from Eoghan O’Connor and Tony McMahon inside the first four minutes, but thereafter in the opening half Clare’s rearguard was a watertight unit. Clare had levelled the match by the 7th minute thanks to a pair of fine frees by Gary Leahy and they were also thankful to goalkeeper Peter O’Dwyer who made a smart block to deny O’Carroll a 9th minute goal. The lively nature of the opening stages bore portents for an engaging encounter, yet the play became bogged down around the middle for the remainder of the first-half. Shooting was wayward on both sides with Limerick having reason to bemoan the fact that the foothold O’Brien and Joyce-Power gave them around the middle never materialised into a stream of scores.

Instead Clare grew into the game with Sean Collins, who has been starring at variety of levels in hurling of late, starting to acquit himself brilliantly with the big ball and his Cratloe clubmate Liam Markham also shining. Up front Clare had a pair of forwards with an eye for a score in Leahy and Padraig McMahon, and they each notched a brace apiece between the 22nd and 31st minutes to leave Clare 0-6 to 0-2 ahead at the break.

Clare got an early fillip in the second-half when Shane Brennan curled a beautiful shot between the posts, but Limerick mounted a strong response as they eradicated the sloppy handling of their first-half play. O’Connor emerged as a prolific scoretaker up front and the promptings of centre-back Eoin Joy also underpinned their revival. O’Connor (2) and O’Carroll whittled down Clare’s advantage to 0-7 to 0-5 by the 39th minute. Yet Clare seemed to have weather that storm when Brennan and substitute Michéal Malone chipped in with a point apiece to provide them with a four point cushion, 0-9 to 0-5, entering the final quarter. Their vocal home support sensed Clare were on the cusp of a satisfying success, which was all the more admirable considering the absence of Kilmurry-Ibrickane stars Darren Hickey and Mark McCarthy.

At that juncture it was extremely difficult to see Limerick turning things around but they managed to do that in remarkable fashion. O’Connor was on target from open play and placed ball, and when Joy charged through in the 51st minute to blast over, they were only a point adrift. Limerick never let that steam of momentum drop and Joyce-Power bossed the match in a significant fashion late on to propel the Treaty side forward.

Scorers for Limerick: E O’Connor 0-5 (0-3f), C Joyce-Power 1-1, S O’Carroll 0-2, T McMahon, E Joy 0-1 each.

Clare: G Leahy 0-5 (0-3f), S Brennan, P McMahon (0-1f) 0-2 each, M Malone 0-1.

LIMERICK: B Scanlon; D Quaid, M McCormack, E Fitzgibbon; J Riordan, E Joy, B Treacy; B O’Brien, T McMahon; D Ward, J Kelly, P Sheehan; E O’Connor, C Joyce-Power, S O’Carroll.

Subs: E McEniry for Sheehan (39), J Martin for Ward (62).

CLARE: P O’Dwyer; M Moloney, D Ryan, S Cormican; M O’Loughlin, L Markham, S Tierney; C Ryan, M Hallinan; S Collins, S Brennan, P McMahon; E Lyons, G Leahy, C Cormican.

Subs: S Crotty for Lyons (43), M Malone for C Cormican (43), I White for Hallinan (50), C Dickson for Tierney (58).

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry)

solway wrote: »

Everyone knows that foley was dropped, oh no sorry he likes to say he retired. He got the boot and it was long over due;). You still havnt explained what you mean about Luceys big head.

panda100 wrote: »

Anyone at the Waterford game this evening?

After that woeful display I think its time Mickey Ned and Donie Buckley got the sack,something they should have got at the end of last years' championship.

I know we were missing some key players but that doesnt excuse the poor fitness level and hapless tactical errors shown by the team this evening.
Half back line and midfield were very poor with the forwards being non existent. We cannot just rely on Ian Ryan.Paudy Browne should be played at centre half back to stop people going through,he's not a forward. John Mullane is in the half forwards yet he never ever scores. Limerick need to get a proper target man in the full forward line who will lay the ball on to Ger Collins and Ian Ryan.
They lost so many balls this evening passing the ball backwards to the full back line instead of kicking it long into the forwards so they can score.

We have at least 10 great county players but we're getting nowhere and for me it's poor training and managment to blame. It's shocking that a team of such great calibre can play so bad.

solway wrote: »

Your spot on orizio. Its people like grenache who add fuel to the fire. Grenache clearly hasnt a clue what he/she is talking about and still has to have a say.

solway wrote: »

Seriously what age are you? By your replies id say your about 13 or 14, or else your someone who just likes talking through their arse alot.
You still have not explained what you mean about Luceys big head.
Whats with the childish smilies????

solway wrote: »

You do talk some ****e. There is an old saying that says "you cant educate fools" and this is exactly how id describe you. You just dont get or see what bull your talking. Ive better things to do with my time than to be entertaining you. I asked you have you ever been in a dressing room with lucey twice and you have failed to answer me on both occasions. I keep telling you that all your replies are second and third hand information and you keep coming back with more "hear say". You have no solid information to back up what your saying and you still have to have your say. Justin McCarthy has the right to drop whoever he wants, ive no problem with that, i never did.My problem is that mindless idiots like you go around talking waffle about situations you clearly know nothing about. You said justin named a couple of "trouble "makers" and you still have only come back with one name, so go down to the pub and try and find out who the other so called trouble makers are. Thats the place where you probably found the rest of your horse****e. Lastly, good luck to Justin McCarthy and his panel of players. If thats the way McCarthy wants to do his job well so be it. Oh and by the way Micky Ned seems to have no problems with Lucey.......thats strange isnt it :rolleyes:

Daysha wrote: »

I know things aren't hunky dory in Limerick right now, but we've never had a single problem with any of the county superthreads before and I hope it stays that way

solway wrote: »

I have heard many rumours aswell why the 12 players were dropped but i wouldnt believe any of them. Did it ever cross your mind that Justin might not want any dual players in his squad. Mark O Riordan got dropped aswell and what was the reason for that? Dual player also:rolleyes: Trouble maker....hardly. By the way, what club are those 2 players from that told you that Lucey was the instigator of trouble.Id say ive a fair idea in my own mind....:rolleyes: They wear red and black Would you believe their stories.
You still have to name the other 1 or 2 trouble makers in the squad...you keep avoiding that question plus the question regarding being in a dressing room with him. Come on Mr know it all.... or have you to wait until you meet those two players again to get more information?