N.Y. GAA Limerick rips the Bannermen

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Limerick 4-13, Clare 0-5

One just needs to look at the score from this game to get an idea of what exactly happened in this senior hurling match at Gaelic Park on Sunday.

It’s hard to believe that this Limerick side was rather lucky to come away with a point earlier in the season when they were the heavily fancied side coming up against underdogs Offaly. They were forced to finish the game with 12 men that day, but all the same, Offaly showed that they meant business against a side many fancy for the senior hurling championship. Limerick had obviously been training hard however, and clearly wished to put the memory of that dropped championship point well behind them.

Going into this clash, Limerick were obviously well aware that any further dropping of points would pit them in a nasty position with regards to advancing further in the championship.

Clare, with all due respect to them, were never really in contention in this tie. Limerick were rampant throughout, as if to prove to the crowd at the Park that the slip-up against Offaly was merely a once-off defeat that would never occur again.

Racing into an early lead, courtesy of some great scoring from Davie Simms, Morgan Burns, and Eamonn Shields, Limerick were truly awesome.

Liam Briody managed to score a point for Clare very much against the run of play, and did well to grab another one over the bar before the break.

By half time however, Limerick held the upper hand over their neighbors, thanks to some excellent play from Eamonn Shields and Burns, which left Clare trailing by a score of 2-6 to 0-3.

After the break, it was, unfortunately for Clare, more of the same. Limerick proceeded to give the gathering at Gaelic Park an exhibition of how hurling should be played.

Ray McKenna managed to grab a point for Clare after the break, but the difference between the sides was still a hefty 10 points, and Limerick refused to let up. Davie Simms continued his personal vendetta against the Clare backline with a number of fine scores. Not to be outdone, Simms’ brother Tom got in on the scoring action when he grabbed a goal and a point for himself to further his side’s lead.

Ray McKenna and Brian McNamara hit points for Clare, but by this stage they were way too far behind to get back in the game.

Shields and Mike O’Brien finished off the scoring for Limerick to send out a message to all involved in senior hurling in New York that the Greens are back.

Limerick: Finbarr Flood, John Riordan, James O’Donnell, Ross O’Donovan, Philip Wickham, Tom Simms (1-1), James McSweeney, William Joyce, Eamonn Shields (0-3), Mike O’Brien (0-4), Tadhg O’Callaghan, Davie Simms (2-3), Morgan Burns (1-1) Sub Ray Hourican (0-1)

Clare: Aidan O’Connor, Brian Adams, Noel McGovern, Seamus Pender, Ray McKenna (0-1), Marty McGlade, Gary Dowd, Lawrence Kennedy, Eddie Flynn (0-1), Liam Briody (0-2), Darren Doherty, Barney Breen, Vincent Kennedy. Subs: Colin Walsh, Brian McNamara (0-1).

Man of the match: Mike O’Brien (Limerick).