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LIMERICK manager Donal O’Grady has highlighted the need for his side to be playing a higher level of hurling than the Division Two grade, but says there’s no point in winning Saturday’s shoot-out with Clare in Cusack Park only to become the whipping boys in Division One in 2012.

Speaking to The Clare People ahead of Saturday’s eagerly awaited clash, O’Grady admitted that his side learned little about themselves in some matches during their sevengame unbeaten run to the final, apart from giving all 33 panel members some game-time.

“Division Two is a standard below where you want to play. A lot of the games aren’t that competitive. You want to win the games but you’re not learning a great deal by playing teams that are inferior to you,” he said.

“Having said that we struggled in a lot of matches. We struggled against Laois, we struggled against Westmeath, we struggled at times against Carlow and struggled in the second half against Clare.

“It doesn’t do Limerick any good to be hurling against the likes of Kerry and Down, because it brings nothing to the table.”

Now ahead of the second meeting between the sides this year, O’Grady says that home advantage tips the scales in Clare’s favour, albeit that Limerick were decisive 2-9 to 0-6 winners in the first game of the campaign.

“With all local derbies you can’t predict what’s going to happen. It’s all on the day with these matches. It doesn’t matter how you prepare or how up for it you are. The other side are going to up for it as much, because there’s a huge Shannonside rivalry. Local derbies take on a life of their own.

“We went for the toss because we thought it was practical from supporters’ viewpoint, but I think the home team have a two or three point advantage before the throw-in because home advantage is worth a head start any time.

“Only one team can win, but the difficulty there is that the last thing you want to do is win the game, go up into Division One and get hammered next year and find yourself back down again yo-yo style,” he added.

FOR TWO players who have won practically everything in the game, the one piece of sliverware that has eluded Clarecastle pair Anthony Daly and Ger O’Loughlin has been the National League. Fittingly considering this weekend’s opponents, Kilkenny have proved a constant thorn in Daly’s side in the National League final of ‘95 as a player and in 2005 as manager of Clare while the Sparrow was on the losing side in both the 1986 and 1995 finals and of course in last year’s Division 2 final against Wexford as manager.

Daly is the first to admit that while National League’s weren’t high on Ger Loughnane’s priority list in the 90’s, the breakthrough would mean everything to his emerging Dublin side this weekend in their first Division 1 final in 65 years.

“It is a little bit weird I suppose not to have picked up a National League after all the success we had in the 90’s. In Clare terms anyway, we had a fair bit of success so it was one that got away, it was one I suppose that Ger [Loughnane] never put massive emphasis on. The biggest disappointment for us in the league was in ’95 but then when we went on to win the All-Ireland, I suppose the league did become secondary.

“This is a bit different for Dublin because it would be a huge one for us to win and it would be a massive boost for hurling in Dublin so we will be going absolutely all out for this on Sunday. To get into the final has been great because it has been such a long time but it will mean nothing if we don’t give a performance so it would be a massive one for us to pull off alright.

“In saying that, we are realistic enough to know it’s going to be very difficult as well. You could see from the last day Kilkenny were anxious to show us that the pecking order hadn’t changed. Now we fought it out well the last day, even though it was only a run of the mill league game for them while for us it was a bit bigger being on in Croke Park and all that. So they will be anxious again to put us in our place and we know that but we will also be anxious to perform anyway, that’s the main thing.

“That may not be good enough to win and if we can say we got the best out of ourselves I’d be happy with that because that’s the way we have looked at it all year. We are not putting any pressure on ourselves to say we have to win the league, we have to win this match or that match. Out attitude is ‘let’s play our best and see where that takes us’, you’d never know where that will bring us.”

If Kilkenny have had a hoodoo over Dublin in the past few years, then Limerick have emerged as Clare’s equivalent this year, having put them to the sword with relative ease in the opening game of the league in February. Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin is confident that Clare can use that disappointment to their advantage when they return to the scene of the crime on Saturday evening for the winner-takes-all decider.

“Without doubt, the lads are motivated to rectify that game this weekend. We have spoken about it at length, we realise what’s involved and we realise that we have to play way above what we have been playing to date against better opposition. But we have our homework done, we are expecting a huge challenge from Limerick because they are the team to beat in it and while we are going in as underdogs, I know from the encounter we had in February that every lad is looking forward to going in and putting the wrong right.”

The one niggling doubt surrounding Clare this year has been their inconsistency, not only from game to game but often within the same game but having gone through similar traits with his Dublin side, Anthony Daly isn’t unduly worried and feels that Clare will never get a better opportunity to get back to the top tier, having received home advantage.

“That fading in and out of games just seems to be a tendency that needs to be ironed out and I think that comes with inexperience of young players. “What will help Clare is that the game is on in Cusack Park. It’s been a massive break for Clare having it in the Park and I’d say, you’ll have 12-15,000 there including a huge Limerick crowd because they are all excited with the Donal O’Grady era starting. I just think it’s a massive chance for our lads to stand up and be counted.

“I have read a bit of criticism and of course it always turns to the management when things are going wrong. I felt sorry for Sparrow, Doyler and Danny for the few weeks there because I know what it’s like myself. The Clare hurling public; the diehards can be great but there is a small crowd there that can be very fickle. I am expecting a huge Clare performance on the night and I’m looking forward to being there myself. I would be very hopeful we can get the win and get back to Division 1.

“For the progression of a young team like we have, getting back up to Division 1 and retaining that status next year is the key. That’s the way you have to build. The fellas who want automatic success or ‘The Keyboard Warriors’ as I call them are not being realistic.

“Most people out there realise it’s a job of work, it’s going to take time and the boys are working fierce hard. I know how much work they are putting in from chatting away to Sparrow every so often and how frustrating it has been for him and how upsetting at times but it is. We [Dublin] know last year that we have no doubt that we could beat Antrim most of the time we play them but on the day they caught us. I have no doubt Clare could beat Laois in championship hurling nearly all the time but on the day they just got caught. What a fantastic chance now for the boys on Saturday and I hope the players realise that.”

Let the games begin.

Clare 1-10 – Limerick 0-10 at The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

IN Clare’s darkish hour when they had been bested by Cork by five points in Páirc Uí Rinn in their maiden voyage in this year’s championship, players, management and everyone involved made a contract with one another.

Together they vowed to bounce back to have another crack at Cork in a provincial semi-final in Cusack Park – so it has happened after they won this Munster play-off game from the front which ensures they are only 60 minutes away for a first Munster final appearance in 17 years.

It was no more than this Clare side deserved too thanks to withstanding what Limerick could throw at them at various intervals of both halves before edging home with three points to spare thanks to a storming last ten minutes.

It had looked very good for Clare in the first half as they opened up a 1-2 to no score lead when playing with the breeze, but by half-time things had taken a turn for the worse by the break as Clare’s advantage had been peared back to a point.

Then the initiative swung either way in the second half before Niall Hickey kicked Clare into the penultimate round with a closing burst of three points in the closing ten minutes to bring his tally for the hour to an match-winning contribution of 0-5.

It was Hickey’s clubmate Adrian Murrihy who helped Clare get off to a flier when goaling in the eighth minute after Eoin Cleary had opened the scoring with a fifth minute point. However, Murrihy’s goal was his final contribution of the game as he got injured in the act of scoring, but this all-important strike, allied to a further points from Hickey and helped Clare exert early dominance against a flatfooted and lethargic Limerick.

However, Danny Frewen’s opening point for the Shannonsiders on the 17th minute was a sign of things to come as the impressive left-corner- forward proved to be a thorn in Clare’s side all evening.

Suddenly Clare’s early supremacy evaporated, as did their lead as three more Frewen points and another from Francis O’Riordan had the sides level by the 25th minute in Limerick’s purple patch that yielded five points in ten minutes turned this tie on its head.

Clare did stop the rot before the break with points from Cleary and Hickey, while Frewen was on the mark once more for Limerick, but a 1-4 to 0-6 lead for Clare scarcely seemed enough.

Frewen’s sixth point had the sides level inside a minute of the restart, but not for the first time in the half Clare’s battling qualities emerged as good points from play from Martin O’Leary and Eoin Cleary helped them forge 1-6 to 0-7 clear by the 40th minute.

Those points were crucial and buttressed Clare for another Limerick comeback that saw that man Frewen, with his seventh point, and Darren Roche set up a battle to the last when bringing the sides level by the 51st minute.

As it transpired, it was as if Limerick had expended all their energy to get back on terms that they hadn’t got much more to give in the closing minutes and into that vacuum gladly stepped Clare to close out the game.

A mix of fitness, that contract they’d made between themselves in Cork on May 13 and Niall Hickey’s marksmanship got them there as they out-scored Limerick by 0-4 to 0-1 in those closing minutes to seal that semi-final spot.

Clare
Darren Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Conor Gavin (Clondegad), Jamie Malone (Corofin), Oisin Vaughan (Ennistymon), Stan Lineen (Kilmihil), Darragh McDonagh (St Joseph’s Miltown), Craig O’Brien (WolfeTones),Alan O’Neill (ST Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown) (0-2), Eoin Cleary ((St Joseph’s Miltown) (0-2, 1f), Ciaran Devitt (Ennistymon),Adrian Murrihy (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (1-0), Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil) (0-1), Niall Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (0-5, 4f), Dara Bolton (Kilrush Shamrocks).

Subs
WilliamFlynn (WolfeTones) for Murrihy, Joey Rouine (Ennistymon) for Bolton, Jack Scanlan (O’Curry’s) for Flynn, James Sweeney (Éire Óg) for O’Brien.

Limerick
David Condron; Kevin Brosnan, Brendan McCarthy, Kevin O’Donoghue; Eoin O’Donnell, Shane O’Connor, Sean Barrett; Dara Tracey,Tommy Griffin; Dean Lillis, Denis O’Dea, Francis O’Riordan (0-1 free); Danny Neville (0-1), WilliamShanahan, Danny Frewen (0-7, 3f)

Subs
Jamie Quaid (0-1) for Francis O’Riordan (injured), Eoin Roche for WilliamShanahan, Kieran Larkin for Danny Neville, Kevin Meade for Denis O’Dea

Man of the Match
Niall Hickey (Clare)

Referee
Joe Lynch (Kerry)

Sixmilebridge 4-14 – Cratloe 1-10 at Cusack Park, Ennis

A RECORD breaking 13th Under 21A title for Sixmilebridge who banished the ghosts of recent finals to take the honours in the O’Garneyside derby. Having contested the last five minor and Under 21A deciders but only winning one, the pressure was on Sixmilebridge to deliver and they did so in emphatic fashion with an unanswered 2-5 final eight minute flourish to flesh out the winning margin.

In truth, the 13 point difference didn’t reflect the significant role that Cratloe played in the narrative of this often scrappy but tense neighbouring encounter, however there is no doubting that Sixmilebridge deserved their latest silverware on the balance of play.

As expected, the key aspect of this game came down to balance. Sixmilebridge had far more strength in depth and those greater variety of options proved decisive against a Cratloe side that constantly relied on the individual brilliance of all too few.

That said, the near-telepathic understanding between Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath up front kept Cratloe within touching distance until the finale but it was always going to be a huge ask to expect that pair along with Liam Markham, Conor Ryan and Podge Collins to carry the side over the line.

Instead, Sixmilebridge had their homework done on their opponents strengths, altered their side accordingly and utilised their own assets to bounce back to the winner podium. Paidi Fitzpatrick executed a match-winning manmarking role on McGrath; Brian Carey curbed Ryan at midfield while Shane Golden expertly pulled the strings alongside him and up front Seadna Morey and later Jamie Shanahan put the finish- ing touches to the victory.

After a 15 minute delay due to an uneven queue to turnstile ratio, the eager sides got the game off to a blistering pace with Conor McGrath feeding Podge Collins for the opening scoring inside 30 seconds, with an almost immediate reply from Brian Carey. That pace was maintained for the next few minutes but the accuracy dipped dramatically with Sixmilebridge in particular firing from ambitious ranges.

Cratloe took advantage, with a brace of Cathal McInerney points putting them 0-3 to 0-2 in front by the end of the opening quarter until Sixmilebridge pounced for the opening goal in the 18th minute. A Cratloe puck-out was gathered by Pa Sheehan to play a low ball to Declan Morey who made a trademark turn and solo towards goal before firing on the volley to the net.

Sam O’Sullivan followed up with a point but while the ‘Bridge were on top, they failed to hammer home that advantage further and it allowed Cratloe a window of opportunity that Conor McGrath inevitably took just before the break with two points to trail by just two at 1-4 to 0-5.

That fightback was completed by a Cathal McInerney goal only three minutes after the restart when Sixmilebridge failed to clear their lines and McGrath fed the unmarked McInerney to billow the net. Gaining momentum, Joe O’Connor traded points with Seadna Morey before McIner- ney and McGrath again combined for the former to point once more and extend their lead to two at 1-7 to 1-5 by the 36th minute.

Sixmilebridge had to dig deep and they upped their display considerably through Fitzpatrick, Seadna Morey, Golden at midfield and Jamie Shanahan who opened his account in the best possible manner in the 41st minute with a goal from close range after dispossessing goalkeeper Collins. County minors Shanahan (2) and Morey added another three points without reply to open up a five point lead while goalkeeper Stephen Fleming made a full length dive to stop a McInerney shot in the 44th minute.

Still, Cratloe were not done yet and after a Liam Markham ’65, they reduced the deficit to only two points once more by the 49th minute with a superb Conor McGrath point after shrugging off three defenders and another from Conor Ryan.

Cratloe’s hopes of a full recovery was dashed however only minutes later when a Shane Golden burst down the left wing ended with a shot from 40 metres that eluded goalkeeper David Collins and dropped into the net.

From that point, Cratloe’s heads dropped and a buoyant Sixmilebridge took full advantage with Jamie Shanahan coming into his own in that final period, scoring an impressive 1-4 to ease up to victory.

The good times were back for Sixmilebridge and going on the potential shown on this occasion, they should be there for a long while to come.

Sixmilebridge
Stephen Fleming (7), Gerry Quilligan (7), Paidi Fitzpatrick (8), Eanna Burns (7), Barry O’Connor (7), John Fennessy (7),Trevor Purcell (7), Brian Carey (7) (0-1), Shane Golden (8) (1-0), Seadna Morey (8) (0-4), SamO’Sullivan (7) (0-1), Pa Sheehan (7) (0-1), Ronan Mullane (6) (0-1), Declan Morey (7) (1-0), Jamie Shanahan (8) (2-6 4f, 0-1 Pen)

Subs
Noel Purcell (6) for Burns (46 mins), Cathal O’Connor (7) for Mullane (46 mins)

Cratloe
David Collins (6), Joe Conroy (7), Sean Hynan (7), Jack McCourt (7),Wesley Deloughery (6), Liam Markham(7) (0-1 1’65), Enda Boyce (7), Conor Ryan (7) (0-1), Podge Collins (7) (0-1), Patrick Carey (6), Cathal McInerney (8) (1-3), Dean Deloughery (6),Tomás Ryan (6), Joseph O’Connor (7) (0-1), Conor McGrath (7) (0-3 1f)

Sub
David McInerney for D. Deloughery (58 mins)

Man of the Match
Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)

Referee
Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)