Limerick beat Clare in the first Munster Football Championship match ever decided by penalties this evening at Cusack Park in Ennis.
It was a historic, and absolutely mental occasion. The match finished Clare 1-19 - 2-16 Limerick after two halves of injury time.
Limerick converted its first four penalties while Clare missed its first two, effectively sealing the Banner's fate.
It's a massive result in the increasingly-competitive landscape of Munster football. Clare have been Division 2 mainstays under Colm Collins. Limerick showed how serious an outfit they are tonight.
Clare-Limerick penalties
While the novelty of a penalty shootout in a Championship match will be the big talking point from the match, it should not take away from the various displays of heroism from either side.
Firstly, Limerick needed a 75th minute free to send the game to extra time. Robbie Bourke dispatched it with ease.
A Bourke goal in injury time of the first half of extra time meant Limerick were in control in the second half of added time
However Clare were handed a free in injury time of the second half of added time to send the game to penalties. Eoin Cleary took the honours, and did not miss.
Then came penalties. Limerick put two of its best players first and Iain Corbett and Bourke scored effortless penalties.
Iain Corbett penalty pic.twitter.com/uxajGHJbve
— Limerick Footballers (@LmkFootballers) April 30, 2022
Robbie Bourke Penalty pic.twitter.com/F4IgTUVnfz
— Limerick Footballers (@LmkFootballers) April 30, 2022
James Naughton's penalty decided the match.
James Naughton penalty pic.twitter.com/61DwvRufkL
— Limerick Footballers (@LmkFootballers) April 30, 2022
As you can imagine, there were wild celebrations amongst the Limerick players after the penalties.
Limerick celebrations are qualifying for Munster semi final after a penalty shoot out pic.twitter.com/4zPiW8pHks
— Limerick Footballers (@LmkFootballers) April 30, 2022
It's massive result for the resurgent Limerick team under Billy Lee. Next up, they'll face the winner of Tipperary and Waterford. Should Limerick win that, they'll be in a Munster final against Cork or Kerry.
These are truly good times for Limerick football. In the shadow of the county's all-conquering hurling side, the Limerick footballers have secured their second consecutive promotion this year already and now are eyeing up more.
Back when Division 2 promotion was secured, Lee said:
“Them lads have put everything into it. I’m delighted for them. At the start of the year, this was the last thing on my mind certainly, I don’t know about anyone else. We had this ambition internally just to strive to the top half of the league that was our aim. We weren’t thinking promotion.
“It’s all about the group and the unity in the group. Keeping that competitiveness and see how you go about it.”
