First blood to Clare in a bumper Shannonside derby weekend after raiding for the last five points to protect their perfect start to this year’s Munster Minor Hurling Championship in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge.

Ahead of an eagerly anticipated senior showdown in Ennis on Sunday, this wasn’t a classic by any means as a congested middle third made for a turgid war of attrition rather than a true weekend warm-up.

It was so unusual in fact that unprecedentedly Limerick failed to score from play over the hour as nine frees were in contrast to their hosts nine point haul from play. Such oddities weren’t a concern in the heat of battle as with the slight aid of the crossfield conditions, Limerick battled back from a three point half-time deficit to get within a point of their neighbours by the two-thirds mark.

With tensions rising, that stalemate remained for the next twelve minutes before impressive midfielder Matthew Corbett and substitute Paul Rodgers, brother of senior Mark, grabbed a brace of points each to alleviate the danger.

The drama wasn’t finished yet as the excellent Harry Doherty earned an injury-time penalty for the Banner that Corbett flashed wide before the former sealed victory with the last puck.

It wasn’t all good news for the defending Munster and All-Ireland champions who were struck by a serious leg injury for their captain and talisman Marc O’Brien who starred in Clare’s historic 2023 minor adventure.

With Limerick slow to settle, the Banner brushed off that major setback by carving out three glorious goal chances in as many minutes as the electric Liam Murphy’s lob was scrambled clear by goalkeeper Cathal Dennehy, while Murphy and Conor Ralph were both brought down on their way to goal for Matthew Corbett to punish with frees at 0-3 to 0-1 by the end of the opening quarter.

Ralph would subseuently get on the scoreboard and also had a one-handed shot repelled by Dennehy as Corbett extended the gap to three by the break at 0-9 to 0-6.

Shane Dowling’s side did up the ante on the restart with Diarmuid Hurley converting three of the first four points to slash the arrears to the minimum by the 41st minute.

With every possession magnified, both sides found it difficult to hone their radars, with Hurley having the best chance of a major twist when striking the sidenetting entering the final ten minutes.

A foul on the towering Harry Doherty allowed Clare to breath again as Corbett floated over the home side’s first score in 16 minutes. And with that weight lifted off their shoulders, Rodgers (2), Corbett and Doherty would flesh out the final margin to effectively end Limerick’s Munster Final hopes.

Scorers for Clare: M Corbett (0-8, 6f); P Rodgers, H Doherty (0-2 each); L Murphy, C Ralph, P Finneran (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Limerick: D Hurley (0-6f); J Cosgrave (0-3f) 

CLARE: M Crotty (Scariff); D Moroney (Éire Óg), S McNamara (Clooney-Quin), S Óg Kilkenny (Bodyke); D Kennedy (Ballyea), J Cullinan (Ruan), R Mulcahy (Éire Óg); G Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), M Corbett (Clooney-Quin); H Doherty (Clarecastle), P Finneran (Clooney-Quin), D McNamara (Clooney-Quin); C Ralph (Clarecastle), M O’Brien (Cratloe), L Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills) 

Subs: P Rodgers (Scariff) for O’Brien (7, inj), J O’Connor (Clooney-Quin) for Ralph (45), T Lohan (Cratloe) for D. McNamara (49), M Vaughan (Broadford) for Finneran (57), R Hayes (Tulla) for Mulcahy (59, inj) 

LIMERICK: C Dennehy (Glenroe); C Ryan (Adare), D Dennehy (Glenroe), D Blackwell (Ahane); E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), J Cosgrave (Ahane), G Enright (Kilmallock); P Murphy (Castletown/Ballyagran), E Maher (Monaleen); P Cagney (Feohanagh/Castlemahon), D Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh), D Hurley (Hospital/Herbertstown); T Cusack (Murroe/Boher), J Fitzgerald (Bruff), M McKenna (Pallasgreen) 

Subs: P Kearney (Adare) for Fitzgerald (37), G Dorgan (Monagea) for Cusack (40), L O’Connor (Templeglantine) for Enright (46, inj), R Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore) for D. Dennedy (48-51, BS), C Ryan (Ahane) for Cagney (53), J O’Connor (Ahane) for for Brosnan (56, inj), Hanly for D. Dennehy (64, BS) 

Referee: S Scanlon (Cork)