Limerick held off Clare by the skin of their teeth to claim a first ever Munster SHC five in a row. The Banner had led by a Mark Rodgers goal at the interval – 1-11 to 0-11 – in a slow-burning contest but the All-Ireland champions roared into the game after half-time thanks to a green flag from the unmarkable Aaron Gillane, who finished with 1-11 (8fs). Clare captain Tony Kelly (0-06, 2fs) levelled but Limerick, cheered on by the locals at a Gaelic Grounds split in colour, scored the next five points in a ten-minute period to take control.