N.Y. GAA Simms saves day for Limerick

By Pierce O’Reilly

Limerick 0-19, Clare 3-10

A pointed free from the stick of Dave Simms on the stroke of full time saved the day for Limerick Sunday at Gaelic Park.

These two Munster kingpins played out a lackluster game for the hour, and while the scores were always tit-for-tat, the game never ignited into the classic many had expected. Clare will be happier with their performance. Weekenders Colin Lynch at center back and corner forward Alan Markham played their hearts out from the first whistle and the Banner men never trailed by more than a point.

At the interval, the sides were level at 0-10 for Limerick and 1-7 for Clare. Clare started brightly with Lynch, Sean McMahon and Markham all getting early points. Limerick responded with scores from Simms and Callaghan McCarthy. After fifteen minutes, the Banner men hit the onion bag with Clare senior Alan Markham rifling a shot the back of Finbar Flood’s net. Further points from Markham (2) and Simms (2) left the sides equal at the changeover.

The second half produced a better brand of hurling, with both sets of forwards on top. Limerick center back Donal Fitzgibbon was outstanding over the hour and his early point in the half gave the Shannon siders the impetus. David Dunne put Limerick two up after five minutes. Clare, however, refused to buckle and a great goal from Mike Grealish and a point from Gerry Murphy put them back in front. Substitute Brendan Cagney hit two for Limerick, with Dave Simms pushing them in front again a minute later.

Goals win games they say and Clare pounced again with 10 minutes to play. Ollie Noonan was on hand to drive a piledriver to the net from close range with time running out to put his side right back in contention. The closing minutes proved pulsating stuff, with both sides going all out for victory. First it was Limerick with Tom Simms going ahead and then two great points from Murphy and Lynch to give the Banner men the advantage. With time running out, the evergreen Dave Simms held his nerve to level matters again with the last puck of the sliotar.

Limerick: Finbar Flood, John Riordan, Seamus Howard, Mark Crosgrave, Donal Fitzgibbon 0-1, Tom Simms 0-2, James McSweeney, Taghd O’Callaghan 0-2, Eamon Shields, John Maher 0-1, David Dunne 0-1, Dave Simms 0-8, Callaghan McCarthy 0-1. Subs, Brendan Cagney, Sean Cotter. Subs; Brendan Cagney 0-2, Wayne Nash 0-1.

Clare: Steven O’Hara, Brian Adams, Ray McKenna, Colin Lynch 0-4, Seamus Pender, John Kennedy, Eddie Flynn, Mike Grealish 1-0, Sean McMahon 0-1, Gerry Murphy 0-2, Ollie Noonan 1-0, Alan Markham 1-3, Liam Briody.