Clare 1-23 Limerick 0-14: Banner too strong for Treaty

Despite a tough period each side of half-time, Clare eased their way into the Munster football semi-final with a 1-23 to 0-14 triumph over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

Colm Collins' side will now meet Kerry in the last four, a repeat of the semi-final of the last two years, games which Kerry have won en route to becoming champions.

This was a convincing win for the Banner with Kieran Malone's goal midway through the first half and five Eoin Cleary points key to their five-point lead at the break.

Clare should have been even further clear at the interval, but Limerick kicked six of seven points in a 10-minute spell before the break, and even closed the gap to three points by the 40th minute.

But Clare settled when Eimhin Courtney pointed and a great impact off the bench saw Clare over the line.

Cleary curled over a lovely score after three minutes to start the scoring, and his forward colleagues Keelan Sexton and David Tubridy soon matched his tally to make it 0-3 to 0-0 after five minutes.

A foul on Jamie Lee allowed Sean McSweeney to get Limerick on the board, but Clare's response was emphatic as Pearse Lillis, Jamie Malone and Cleary all found the target again - and only a great save from O'Sullivan denied Kieran Malone a goal.

But the Limerick defence was being carved open too easily, and after 18 minutes Kieran Malone exchanged passes with Jamie Malone, and Kieran found the net after his initial effort was well saved by O'Sullivan.

Limerick responded with a couple of good scores as Jamie Lee and Danny Neville trimmed the gap to six points, but a great stop from Eamonn Tubridy halted Limerick's run five minutes from the break, as points from Kieran Malone and David Tubridy put Clare 1-9 to 0-7 ahead at half-time.

A foul and some dissent from Eoghan Collins allowed Lee to close the gap to four points early in the second half, and by the 40th minute McSweeney pointed to put just a goal between the sides.

But Clare finally found their feet again after 13 barren minutes. Eimhin Courtney landed a great score, which was followed by four more unanswered points for Clare, with two of them coming from the boot of Cleary.

From there to the end it was a canter for Clare as substitute Gearoid O'Brien and Kerian Malone pointed in a 12-point win.

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Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).

Scorers for Clare: Kieran Malone (1-3), Eoin Cleary (0-5), David Tubridy (0-3, 1f), Eimhin Courtney (0-2), Conor Finucane 0-2, Conal Ó nAinifein, Pearse Lillis, Cathal O'Connor, Keelan Sexton, Gearoid O'Brien, Gavin Cooney, Martin O'Leary, Jamie Malone (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: Sean McSweeney (0-5, 5f), Jamie Lee (0-3, 1f), Danny Neville (0-2), Josh Ryan (0-3, 2f), Paul White (0-1).

TEAMS:

Clare:

1. Eamon Tubridy

2. Gordon Kelly

3. Cillian Brennan

4. Eoghan Collins

5. Cian O'Dea

6. Aaron Fitzgerald

7. Pearse Lillis

8. Gary Brennan

9. Cathal O'Connor

10. Kieran Malone

11. Eoin Cleary

12. Jamie Malone

13. Eimhin Courtney

14. Keelan Sexton

15. David Tubridy

Subs:

24 Conal Ó nAinifein for Kelly (42nd minute),

22 Gearoid O'Brien for Sexton (58th minute)

23 Eanna O'Connor for Collins (69th minute)

17 Gavin Cooney for D Tubridy (64th minute)

18 Conor Finucane for K Malone (66th minute)

25 Martin O'Leary for Courtney (67th minute).

Limerick:

1. Donal O'Sullivan

2. David Connolly

3. Sean O'Dea

4. Paul Maher

5. Paul White

6. Cillian Fahy

7. Gordon Browne

8. Darragh Treacy

9. Michael Fitzgibbon

10. Danny Neville

11. Sean McSweeney

12. Gareth Noonan

13. Jamie Lee

14. Patrick Begley

15. Peter Nash

Subs:

20. Iain Corbett for Nash (44th minute, BC)

21. Josh Ryan for Begley (49th minute)

23 Killian Ryan for Lee (54th minute)

24 Davy Lyons for Fitzgibbon (61st minute)

18 Daniel Daly for Browne (61st minute)

25 Padraig Scanlon for Neville (64th minute).