Limerick see off Clare in Munster Hurling League to get year off to winning start

Clare 1-19 Limerick 2-21

All-Ireland champions Limerick got their 2024 campaign off to a winning start as goals from Cathal O'Neill and debutant Luke Flynn saw off Clare in the Munster Hurling League.

John Kiely took the opportunity to hand out eight debuts as 10 different players got on the scoresheet, led by 0-07 from Effin free-taker Patrick O’Donovan.

Clare had impressive performers in Darragh Lohan, a nephew of manager Brian, and David Conroy, while Peter Duggan claimed the final touch for a consolation goal.

The 1,500 tickets were all sold out five days before this clash, refixed from Sixmilebridge to Clarecastle’s all-weather pitch.

Limerick’s opener against Cork was postponed due to fog and they arrived with only captain for the day Dan Morrissey retained from the starting All-Ireland final team. Their back-ups still showed they are well-versed in the desired short-passing build-up.

They created plenty of chances, although they had five misses before Donnacha Ó Dálaigh got the scoreboard moving. That was the story on both sides, with Clare finishing on 18 wides to Limerick’s 14 in bitterly cold conditions.

Shane O’Brien was at the centre of Limerick’s attack and did the difficult part well by regularly putting himself in scoring positions.

He ended with 0-04 but accounted for half of Limerick’s wide tally and had two shots on goal foiled, one by a brilliant Lohan block and the other by a sprawling Éamonn Foudy save.

Limerick moved 0-09 to 0-05 up but Clare struck four in a row to level, with David Reidy, Keith Smyth, and Conroy displaying superb finishing.

But Cathal O’Neill goaled on the stroke of half-time when found by Adam English to send them in 1-10 to 0-10 ahead.

English, O’Neill, and O’Brien added fine scores as