Clare v Limerick preview team news and live score updates. We have live score updates from todays All-Ireland hurling semi-final, its should be a great clash between the two Munster teams Limerick and Clare.

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Preview

The second All-Ireland hurling semi-final will take place on Sunday as local rivals go toe to toe for a place in the All-Ireland final with Cork. Both sides will fancy their chances and hold no fear of each other. They are both young sides coming into the game with form and momentum on their sides. They faced each other three times in 2012 with Clare winning two outings, but Limerick winning the all important championship tie. It really is a tough one to call.

Everybody saw the scenes at the final whistle when Limerick won their first Munster title since 1996. There were joyous scenes at the final whistle and Limerick had won a title defeating the two traditional big teams in Munster; Tipperary and Cork. They played a very good brand of hurling and they will be full of confidence. The biggest question for me is the five week lay-off. It must be said thought that they also had a five week lay-off between the Munster semi-final and final which didn’t seem to have a huge impact but since then some Clare players have had two championship games, so they may be at a disadvantage.

The Limerick have played club games in between so there will be a freshness in returning to the intercounty scene. Clare on the other hand have huge momentum on their side. They have bounced back from defeat to Cork and this young team is growing with the more time they are spending on the pitch. The under-21 scene has also provided extra momentum for a number of their players so the confidence in these players is an all-time high. Both managers have named unchanged teams but the tactical battle will be intriguing.

Limerick’s defence have been very good so far. Each of their six defenders have excelled and it will be interesting what type of match-up’s they will go for with Clare’s forwards. Limerick have also faced orthodox forwards lines so far and it will be interesting to see what they will do with the roaming players like Tony Kelly and Padraic Collins. They had an extra man in defence for the second-half against Cork and they used it to almost perfection so it will be interesting to see if they take the same approach to a two-man full-forward that Clare will likely deploy.

Clare overused tactics against Cork but they have certainly learned from this. With Darach Honan and Conor McGrath, they have a dangerous inside line that need to be given service. They are very strong in the middle third, players like Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly provide pace and mobility, while John Conlon and Conor Ryan provide the physicality. They also have a good defence. It will be interesting to see if they double-up on Declan Hannon, like they did with Joe Canning against Galway. Either way I imagine that Cian Dillon will be Hannon’s direct opponent. David McInerney is in great form at the moment while the Clare half-back line is very strong.

This is such an even contest. The more I look at it, the more teams seem to cancel each other out. It’s a first game in Croke Park for the majority of these players so there is no real advantage to either side. A lot may depend on which side uses the wider spaces more efficiently. Will Clare be able to use their pace and mobility to stretch Limerick around the field, or will Limerick be able to dominate physically? It promises to be a cracking encounter and I think it will go right down to the final whistle. Limerick’s goals were the difference last year and maybe the team that scores the most goals may come out on top again here.

Teams

Limerick; Nicky Quaid, Stephen Walsh, Richie McCarthy, Tom Condon, Paudie O’Brien, Wayne McNamara, Gavin O’Mahony, Donal O’Grady, Paul Browne, David Breen, James Ryan, Seamus Hickey, Graeme Mulcahy, Declan Hannon, Seanie Tobin

Clare; Patrick Kelly, Domhnall O’Donovan, David McInerney, Cian Dillon; Brendan Bugler, Patrick Donnellan, Patrick O’Connor; Colm Galvin, Colin Ryan; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Conor Ryan; Pádraic Collins, Darach Honan, Conor McGrath

Players to Watch

Cian Dillon – He is a very good defender who is having a very good season. He missed the start of the league but he has returned for the championship and played very well. I would predict that he will be given the job of trying to nullify Declan Hannon and if he can achieve this, I think Clare will have a great chance.

Gavin O’Mahony – He was outstanding when these sides faced each other in a qualifier in 2012 and Limerick will want a similar performance. He showed great leadership in that game and he inspired those around him. He is one of their experienced players and he will need to organise the middle third for Limerick in this game. He will have a big role to play.

Betting Advice

The bookmakers have this priced very evenly and understandably so. There are a lot of alternative handicap prices available. It’s very tough to call but I fancy Clare. I think they have more momentum on their side.

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IT Sligo began their Sigerson Cup campaign in Tuam Stadium on Thursday with a comprehensive 3-13 to 2-7 victory over GMIT.

James Shaughnessy was their top scorer with 1-6 and Bryan Walsh got another goal to give the Sligo college a 2-5 to 1-6 half-time lead.

Joseph Donnellan struck the major for the home side and added a second after the break.  But with Jamie Brennan netting a third for the visitors, IT Sligo ran out comfortable nine-point winners.

Garda College kicked off their campaign with an 0-8 to 0-3 win in Templemore against Cork IT.  Building a sizeable first-half lead, Seamus O’Carroll, Eoin Cleary and Thomas McDaniel all kicked two points each for a 0-6 to 0-1 advantage.  Thomas Featherstone, Peadar Morris and Brian Coakley managed Cork IT points but the host side’s lead was never under threat.

On Wednesday, last year’s runners-up DCU began with an easy 3-10 to 0-3 win over Queen’s University in Belfast.  After leading 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time, the Dublin outfit pulled away after Ryan Burns got a 39th minute goal.  Niall Murphy and Enda Smith struck the other majors.

NUIG were comfortable winners against Trinity College by 4-12 to 1-7.  Adam Gallagher, Sean Kelly, Colm Kelly and Matt McClean got the goals for the Tribesmen to advance.

And University Limerick (UL) won a thriller after extra-time against Maynooth University by 3-19 to 4-15.  Maynooth lead by nine points through Ryan O’Rourke and two Joey Wallace majors with Daniel Flynn adding a fourth later.  Jack Goulding had gotten an early UL goal and Gearoid Hegarty got their second.  Michael Geaney got the third from a penalty as the Munster college came from four behind in the added period to get over the line.

Patrick O’Donovan TD, the Gaelic Players Association have announced the commencement of the next phase of Government Grant payments to GAA Players.

This year will see the first tranche of the new funding agreement being paid to players over the next week. Grants awarded to players will range from €519 to €1,066 based on performance in the 2016 Championships. It will be will be a lot harder earned than getting your bet365 bonus after opening an account.

As with previous agreements, Sport Ireland provided the funding to the GAA who are working with the Gaelic Players Association for the appropriate disbursement of the grants to the players. The grant provides practical support to players and allows them to continue playing their sport at the highest level all over Ireland, while also maintaining a career or studies.

As well as promoting increased levels of physical activity, Gaelic players can act as important role models in a number of other key policy areas at local and national level.  These include the promotion of mental health and wellbeing, the fight against obesity and the prevention of alcohol and drugs misuse.

In addition to supporting national policy, under the new agreement Inter county players will have increased involvement in promoting healthy lifestyles at a local level through the Local Sports partnerships in every county.

Minister O’Donovan:  “The Government’s investment in this agreement shows how important Gaelic Games are to our country. It is an affirmation of the contribution of these sports to our communities, our culture and our sporting pride. Our Gaelic Games players give tireless commitment to club, community and county and I am glad to acknowledge this commitment today.

The areas of mental health, obesity, adult literacy and alcohol and drug misuse as well as efforts to increase physical activity levels across the population are ones which must be highlighted. It is fantastic that we have these players as role models to assist in the promotion and awareness of these issues.”

Dermot Earley, GPA CEO added; ‘‘Our players are role models in Irish society and are leaders in their community and parishes. It is important that we recognise the huge positive impact that they have on our society and Ireland as a whole. We are delighted that players will receive their grant payments this week. We fully support this new agreement and the focus it places on players helping to promote health and physical activity. Working with their Local Sports partnerships Intercounty players will take a lead role in helping to promote health and physical activity in their own communities as well as key national policies.”

With the new structure of the Super 8’s took place last year with more games for spectators to go throughout the months of July and August. The way the Super 8’s work is the four provincial champions and the four winning teams from round four of the qualifiers compete in two groups of four teams.

Each group will consist of two provincial champions and the two beaten finalists of the other two provinces or the team that beat beats them in round 4 of the qualifiers. The first round of fixtures in each group will see the two provincial champions and the two qualifiers meet in Croke Park. Round two and three will see each team have a home game and an away game. In terms of point scoring, a win is 2 points and a draw is 1 point. The top two teams after the 3 games per team in each group will qualify for the All-Ireland semi-finals.

We have the fixtures dates and groups for the 2019 Super 8s of the All Ireland Gaelic football championship.

After the weekends results and the draw for the 4th round we now have a clear picture of what the Super 8s will look like in 2019. Dublin will be in a group with the Roscommon, Cork/Laois and Cavan/Tyrone.

The other group will be made up of Donegal, Kerry, Meath/Clare and Galway/Mayo

Saturday 6/Sunday 7 July TBC

All-Ireland SFC qualifiers round 4
Cavan v Tyrone
Cork v Laois
Galway v Mayo
Meath v Clare

So possible groups –

Dublin
Roscommon
Cork
Tyrone

Kerry
Donegal
Mayo
Clare

Saturday 13/Sunday 14 July TBC

All-Ireland SFC quarter-final phase 1
Kerry v Galway/Mayo,
Donegal v Meath/Clare,
Dublin v Cork/Laois,
Roscommon v Cavan/Tyrone

Saturday 20/Sunday 21 July TBC

All-Ireland SFC quarter-final phase 2
Kerry v Donegal
Galway/Mayo v Meath/Clare
Dublin v Roscommon
Cork/Laois v Cavan/Tyrone

Saturday 3/Sunday 4 August TBC

All-Ireland SFC quarter-final phase 3
Galway/Mayo v Donegal,
Meath/Clare v Kerry,
Cork/Laois v Roscommon
Cavan/Tyrone v Dublin,

Saturday 10/Sunday 11 August TBC

All-Ireland SFC semi-finals
Quarter-final group 1 winner v quarter-final group 2 runner-up
Quarter-final group 2 winner v quarter-final group 1 runner-up

Sunday 1 September

All-Ireland SFC final
Quarter-final group 1 winner or quarter-final group 2 runner-up v Quarter-final group 2 winner or quarter-final group 1 runner-up