Limerick’s hurlers created their own piece of provincial history on Sunday afternoon as a six-point victory over Clare confirmed an unprecedented sixth Munster hurling title in a row. A power outage at Semple Stadium delayed proceedings by 30 minutes but once the action began it was business as usual as the well-acquainted foes went toe-to-toe. Unusually, it took three minutes for either side to register a score, with both hitting wides before David Reidy split the posts with an effort from out on the right wing which drew an immediate response as Clare hit back through a free from Aidan McCarthy.
David Fitzgerald and Seamus Hannon traded scores before Shane O’Donnell hit a wonderful effort over his shouder and over the bar from a tight angle. Aaron Gillane and Tony Kelly soon got on the board for either team and after fifteen minutes were played, both sides had tallied six points before Clare might have had a goal. Mark Rogers latched onto a breaking ball around the D and sent it out wide to McCarthy, but Nickie Quaid was equal to the latter’s effort into the ground and Limerick escaped.
The Treaty then nosed two ahead, with one effort from Kyle Hayes lifting the crowd. Clare replied through a free from McCarthy for a welcome score before Hannon sent over another to double his personal tally. Gillane then hooked a delightful effort over from beneath the stand as he hugged the sideline under duress before Fitzgerald replied with another big effort from play out around t.
