Clare emerged victorious yesterday over Kilkenny in an exhilarating semi-final match. This win saves them from a third consecutive loss to Kilkenny in the semi-final and leads them to their first final in over a decade, reports Seán Moran. The team’s manager, Brian Lohan, expressed that the constant losses were a source of pressure but hard work saw them through.
Cork’s progression, Denis Walsh suggests, is partially influenced by their previous encounters with Limerick in Croke Park. He poses a question about the current state of Cork’s team. Last year, they scored six points more than Limerick in the end stages of the match at the Gaelic Grounds but lost with a minor deficit; this year, in Páirc Uí Chaoimh they scored the same extra points in the last few minutes and secured a two-point win. Facts indicate that Cork took more shots than Limerick during this event for the first time since five years which might symbolise a shift. Walsh describes Cork’s style of play as fearless and direct.
Later this afternoon, the second All-Ireland semi-final will be played featuring Limerick and Cork at Croke Park. Clare, after their triumphant defeat of Kilkenny, await the winners in the final stage. Limerick, the favourites, are on a hot streak having claimed five consecutive All-Irelands and hoping for their sixth win out of seven championships. However, Cork’s morale is bolstered by their two-point victory over Limerick in the Munster championship, where they amassed a staggering 3-28 score. Such a high score might be necessary to conquer the reigning champions today.
In Limerick, the squad includes Nickie Quaid, Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey, Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes, Will O’Donoghue, Cathal O’Neill, Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, and David Reidy. Their substitutes are Jason Gillane, Conor Boylan, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Richie English, Graeme Mulcahy, Shane O’Brien, Aidan O’Connor, Fergal O’Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, and Darragh O Donovan.
For Cork, the team is made up of Patrick Collins, Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue, Tim O’Mahony, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman, Ciarán Joyce, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, and Brian Hayes. The bench includes Brion Saunderson, Damien Cahalane, Ger Mellerick, Tommy O’Connell, Luke Meade, Ethan Twomey, Conor Lehane, Jack O’Connor, Shane Kingston, Padraig Power, and Robbie O’ Flynn.