Limerick have defeated Clare in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, and in truth it was a non-contest. The All-Ireland champions were utterly dominant in all aspects of the game, following their demolition of Waterford two weeks ago with a similarly commanding showing this afternoon.
As for Clare, this piles the misery on what has been a disappointing championship campaign thus far. While they are still in with an outside chance of advancing from Munster ahead of their meeting with Cork next week, it looks set to be a long summer without hurling for supporters in the Banner County.
Their tight win over Waterford in the opening game has been put into context over the past few weeks, and the optimism brought about by that victory has long since dissipated.
Speaking on the Sunday Game panel after the final whistle, Neil McManus said he believed Clare were 'found out' in the last two games.
Neil McManus says Clare "have been found out" and are "not at the level that Cork, Tipp or Limerick are". "There is no hiding from what we saw out there", agrees Anthony Daly. #GAA pic.twitter.com/poo56w7mnM
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 9, 2019
2013 is a long time ago now, and today they were nowhere near the level they needed to be. Even physically, it looked like Limerick came here to boss this and like they were going to win no matter what.
It looked like Clare came hoping they would win, and that'll get you nowhere in the Munster championship. They've been found out in the rounds in Munster to date, they're not at the level Cork, Limerick or Tipp are.
Clare are well off the pace required in the heat of championship, and that is something that looks unlikely to change ahead of their final round robin game.
Donal Óg Cusack said Clare have no excuses for their poor showing, while Anthony Daly said the fight has disappeared from the team.
"The Championship is the place of truth. There's no excuses, and there are definitely no excuses when it comes to two weeks in a row," says @DonalOgC of Clare's second heavy defeat in a row #GAA pic.twitter.com/9eGxypNTIY
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 9, 2019
Cusack: The championship is the place of truth, that's where you're exposed. There's no excuses, and there are definitely no excuses when it comes to two weeks in a row.
Clare now have been beaten by 13 points by Tipperary, even more by Limerick, their close neighbours who they have come up against over the years and it would have been tit for tat.
I couldn't see it being anything but a very tight game today. I thought Limerick would win, but Clare were blown away today.
Daly: When we made the breakthrough... those lads were always competitive. We took a few hidings before we got there, and it took a long time to establish that bit of confidence, but we were always competitive.
For some reason now, the will to fight seems to be gone out of that team. That's (happened) in the space of a few months, only nine or 10 months.
Clare are still in with a chance of advancing to the All-Ireland series, with a win over Cork next week coupled with a Limerick win over Tipperary seeing them through. If we are to see that scenario come to pass, there will have to be a major lift in their level of performance.
