By Cóilín Duffy
Limerick 0-22 Clare 0-19
Ronan Lynch delivered a stunning performance with 0-13, as Limerick ended Clare's 14-game unbeaten run in the Bord Gais Energy Under 21 Hurling Championship in front of 14,311 spectators at Cusack Park, Ennis tonight.
The Banner's unbeaten run came to an end, but not without a fight, with the sides level on seven times in this contest, before Limerick finished strongly.
The sides were tied on five occasions in the opening half, before Clare finished strongly, with Bobby Duggan's fourth point ensuring a 0-12 to 0-10 interval lead for the hosts.
Clare were guilty of five first half wides to Limerick's two, and this would come back to haunt the hosts on the restart.
Despite this Clare started the second half brightly with the first two points, but Limerick fought back with five unanswered points - all from Lynch, to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
As one comes to expect from games in this competition, yet another high octane contest was provided full of skill and class.
This was certainly fitting finish for Cusack Park, before the bulldozers move in tomorrow ahead of the redevelopment of the Ennis venue.
Limerick netted after just 15 seconds in their semi-final win over Tipperary, and got off to a brilliant start once more, with points from David Dempsey and Darragh O'Donovan inside the opening 90 seconds.
Clare hit back with four unanswered scores, with Shane Gleeson, Shane O'Donnell and Bobby Duggan on target, but also registered three wides during this spell.
Gleeson was causing huge problems for Limerick early on, but the Shannonsiders settled once again, with Lynch pointing their first score in seven minutes, setting the visitors back on their way.
Lynch was certainly a 'lynchpin' in this Limerick win, and added three further unanswered scores to put his side into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead after 17 minutes.
Limerick's advantage was doubled five minutes later with Robbie Hanley and Dempsey adding scores.
However, Clare hit a purple patch once again, with Eoin Quirke, Bobby Duggan, David Conroy and Ian Galvin impressive.
Cian Lynch levelled the game for the fourth time with three minutes remaining before the break, before Galvin and Ronan Lynch swapped scores.
However Clare finished the half strongly with points from Gleeson and Duggan ensuring Clare led by 0-12 to 0-10 at the break.
Galvin and Stephen Ward extended the hosts advantage on the restart, but Clare were then held scoreless for 11 minutes, as Limerick took control.
LIMERICK: D McCarthy; M O’Callaghan, R English, M Casey; D Byrnes, B O’Connell, G Hegarty; D O’Donovan (0-1), P Ryan (0-1); R Lynch (0-13, 8fs, 2 65s), R Hanley (0-1), D Dempsey (0-2); C Ryan (0-1), T Morrissey (0-1), C Lynch (0-1).
Subs: S Flanagan for Hegarty (34 mins), A La Touche Cosgrave for Hanley (35 mins), S Finn for O’Callaghan (44 mins), J Kelliher (0-1) for Morrissey (60 mins), D Condron for Dempsey (60 mins).
CLARE: K Hogan; E Quirke (0-2), D Fitzgerald, S O’Brien; A McGuane, C Cleary, B O’Gorman; D Conroy (0-1), K Hehir; B Duggan (0-6, 5fs), S Gleeson (0-3), I Galvin (0-4); S O’Donnell (0-1), S Ward (0-1, 1 sideline), R Taylor.
Subs: M O’Malley (0-1) for Gleeson (44 mins), N Deasy for Hehir (46 mins), D Moloney for Ward (53 mins), C Crehan for Taylor (59 mins).
Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary).
REFEREE: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)