Munster Under 20 hurling: Clare hold Limerick, Cork off the mark against Waterford

Limerick 1-19 Clare 1-19

A last-gasp point from Seán Rynne was enough to secure a dramatic draw for Clare as the Banner and Limerick shared the spoils in an exciting second-round oneills.com Munster Under 20 hurling championship tie.

Patrick O'Donovan had starred for Limerick and at 1-19 to 1-16 Diarmuid Mullins’ Munster champions looked likely to take the two points but a late flurry of Clare scores ensured a remarkable draw on Shannonside.

A top-drawer Adam English goal four minutes before the break was the difference at half-time when Limerick led 1-9 to 0-9, but despite a dominant Treaty display in the final quarter, a late Clare resurgence, boosted by sub Conor Cleary and an outstanding Patrick Crotty goal, earned Terence Fahy’s side a well-deserved share of the points.

The hosts had kicked off the defence of their title with a 1-18 to 1-14 defeat of Waterford on Saturday afternoon in Dungarvan. Clare began with a 0-20 apiece draw with Tipperary on the same day in Cusack Park.

After a slow start to the game for Limerick, Clare's Keith Smyth tapped over the first point. A long-range Smyth free and a well-taken point from David Kennedy, who took full advantage of a superb Rynee sideline puck, had Clare three up inside the sixth minute.

However, O’Donovan pulled one back a minute later before Adam Fitzgerald picked up a loose ball after an O’Donovan tackle to bring it back to a one point game by the 10th minute.

Midway through the opening half, Clare opened up a three-point margin again after a powerful run from the impressive Patrick Crotty, who laid off to Rynne to slot over in space.

Limerick responded well through Fintan Fitzgerald and after some superb play from Adam Fitzgerald just shy of the 20th minute mark, Ethan