Billy Lee's Limerick booked their place in the Munster SFC semi-finals against Tipperary in dramatic fashion after they defeated Clare 4-1 in a penalty shootout.

The sides had finished level on 2-16 to 1-19 after extra-time at Cusack Park, and the Limerick lads kept their composure, converting all four of their penalties in the shootout via Iain Corbett, Robbie Bourke, Brian Donovan and James Naughton to secure a first championship victory over their neighbours since 2009.

It was cruel luck for Clare, Jamie Malone's point in the 74th minute of normal time left them leading by one and looked enough to see them through before a free from substitute Bourke forced the game into extra-time, 1-14 to 1-14.

A Brian Fanning goal had the Treaty County 1-9 to 1-6 clear at half-time with David Tubridy netting for the hosts from the penalty spot just before the interval.

As darkness began to fall before a crowd of 2,980 spectators in Ennis, Colm Collins' charges dominated the first period of extra-time, then that man Bourke lifted Limerick's challenge with a goal right on the short whistle to leave them 2-15 to 1-17 up with the extra 10 minutes still to come.

The Treaty County held a two-point advantage with four minutes left on the clock, but Clare never gave up as substitute Brendan Rouine and Eoin Cleary landed frees to tie the scores up for the final time and the penalty drama followed.

The reward for Lee's charges is a last-four date with Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium in two weeks' time after the Premier County beat Waterford 2-13 to 1-8 in this evening's other quarter-final at Fraher Field.

The Deise made the perfect start after James Walsh was hauled down and Jason Curry dispatched the resultant penalty to give them a 0-0 to 1-1 advantage after 5 minutes.

However, on 26 minutes, Tipp were also awarded a penalty, with captain Conor Sweeney making no mistake, as they recovered from a sluggish first quarter to lead by 1-8 to 1-2 at half-time.

They pushed on from there and a second goal from substitute Steven O'Brien left Waterford with too much of a mountain climb.

Tweet

Most Read Stories