Drama

Galway await in the decider on Sunday 19 July.

Limerick 1-21 Clare 1-19

LIMERICK’S PASSAGE TO All-Ireland final day was fraught with anxiety and tension, but they produced a powerful late surge to overhaul Clare in this pulsating semi-final.

Aidan O’Connor’s goal in the 70th minute was the key incident that broke Clare’s resistance, the Limerick forward gathering a delivery from Adam English before racing clear and blasting home his shot.

The Ballybrown player knocked over a late free as the insurance score to send Limerick two clear, John Kiely’s side ultimately coming from six points down to triumph.

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 5, 2026

Their challenge looked in jeopardy in the 57th minute when Tony Kelly slammed a penalty to net, a strike that saw Clare jump ahead by 1-19 to 0-16. It was a contentious incident with Peter Duggan fouled by Nickie Quaid, yet the Limerick goalkeeper received a yellow card rather than a black card as Duggan was deemed not to be in possession of the sliotar.

Clare's Peter Duggan is fouled by Limerick's Nickie Quaid. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO

Limerick absorbed that blow and rose to the challenge magnificently in the finale. Clare had struggled for scores in the second half. They only registered 1-3 after half-time and Kelly’s goal proved to be their last score of the day, a testament to Limerick’s defensive strength and resilience. Limerick outscored Clare 1-5 to 0-0 after the penalty was converted, a stirring response at a time when the Munster champions looked in danger of a semi-final exit.

Limerick held their nerve from placed ball courtesy of pointed frees by O’Connor (3) and Diarmaid Byrnes, to see them within touching distance at 1-19 to 0-20. Then came that game breaking moment on the 70th minute mark, O’Connor fetching the pass that English arrowed in from the Hogan Stand side, and cracking a shot to the net.

Clare were left deflated. David Fitzgerald struck a wide from play, Limerick pieced together a neat sequence of passes that culminated in David Reidy being fouled for a pointed free by O’Connor, and then in a late frantic scramble, Duggan struck a shot goalward that didn’t have enough venom behind it to beat Quaid.

Aidan O'Connor consoles Diarmuid Ryan after the game. Grace Halton / INPHO Grace Halton / INPHO / INPHO

Limerick survived a stern test by two points, savouring their emergence from a hard-fought battle in a similar fashion to the Munster final. At the break the scoreboard tale was different. Clare were ahead 0-16 to 0-11 and full value for that position. The teams traded points early on but it was evident that Clare were playing with great ferocity and applying severe pressure to Limerick ball-carriers.

It was 0-4 apiece after 13 minutes and then Clare accelerated clear with a burst of four unanswered points. Limerick got the deficit back to 0-12 to 0-9 after 29 minutes and then shipped four on the bounce again. Duggan and Kelly combined for seven first-half points, scores of the crowd lifting variety that prompted great guttural Banner roars. Mark Rodgers’ free-taking was on point and Brian Lohan’s side were flying high.

Tony Kelly and Diarmaid Byrnes. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Limerick pulled two vital scores back before the interval courtesy of English and Cathal O’Neill. They bounced into the second half and tapped into some of their best play as O’Neill, O’Connor and Byrnes (two) placed them within touching distance.

Clare countered once more. They appeared to have weathered the storm as they came again to create a three-point buffer and then pounced for the first goal of the game.

It looked like the launchpad for a stunning Clare victory, but Limerick’s resilience and refusal to quit are highly-valued qualities. They propelled them forward and a final date with Galway awaits.

Nickie, Daithi and Orla Quaid after the game. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 1-9 (0-9 frees), Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 (0-2 frees), Cathal O’Neill 0-2, Peter Casey 0-2, Barry Nash 0-1, Kyle Hayes 0-1, Aaron Gillane 0-1, Shane O’Brien 0-1, Adam English 0-1.

Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 1-5 (1-0 pen), Mark Rodgers 0-7 (0-6 frees), Peter Duggan 0-3, Ryan Taylor 0-2, Shane O’Donnell 0-1, Cathal Malone 0-1.

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Seán Finn (Bruff), 3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane), 4. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), 7. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

9. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), 19. Adam English (Doone)

10. Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), 14. Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown), 12. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister)

13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 14. Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), 15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)

Subs

• 26. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) for O’Donovan (48)
• 25. Tom Morrissey (Ahane) for Gillane (51)
• 8. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) for O’Neill (57)
• 17. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh) for Dan Morrissey (62)
• 20. Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s) for Peter Casey (74)

Clare

1. Éibhear Quilligan (Feakle)

4. Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones), 6. David McInerney (Tulla), 2. Adam Hogan (Feakle),

7. Niall O’Farrell (Broadford), 5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), 3. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley),

17. John Conlon (Clonlara), 9. Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)

10. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge), 14. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), 12. Seán Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona)

11. Mark Rodgers (Scariff), 15. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), 8. Tony Kelly (Ballyea – captain)

Subs

• 20. Cian Galvin (Clarecastle) for Cleary (45)
• 21. Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara) for Conlon (48)
• 19. Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Rodgers (61)
• 18. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Rynne (63)
• 22. David Reidy (Éire Óg Ennis) for Stritch (inj) (69)

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)

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