MUNSTER SEMI-FINAL
Limerick 1-16
Clare 4-12

NO need for a cryptographer here; none required when there is no enigma. Limerick's five-point defeat to Clare was down to the concession of four soft goals.
While Clare were earthy, physical and real Limerick, featuring fine performances from Niall Moran, Ollie Moran, Mike O'Brien, Damien Reale and Donal O'Grady, for long periods looking the better hurling team, but a lack of sharpness cost Richie Bennis' side dear.
Facing a gale Limerick led 0-4 to 0-2 in the 14th minute when Brian Murray allowed a long-range Pat Vaughan delivery to squirt by him.
The second goal arrived 13 minutes later when Mark Foley and Seamus Hickey failed to gather possession and Jonathan Clancy raced in behind the Limerick cover to help himself to another goal.
By the time the third goal arrived Limerick were within two points of the Banner (1-10 to 2-9) when Stephen Lucey and Seamus Hickey jumped for the same ball. The ball then broke to an unmarked Tony Carmody who drew Brian Murray before passing to Barry Nugent who made no mistake from close range. The fourth materialised three minutes later when Colin Lynch lobbed a hopeful ball toward Diarmuid McMahon on the edge of the square. McMahon, at his ease, caught the ball over Paudie O'Dwyer's head before blasting another three-pointer.
All four Clare goals were avoidable, but symptomatic of Limerick's poor general performance. Limerick's touch was off and the benefit that Clare gained from having already played a championship match was obvious - Limerick hadn't faced one in 42 weeks and it showed.
Even though Limerick were playing against a ferocious wind they led 0-4 to 0-2 after 13 minutes. Limerick's fourth point was extraordinarily efficient with Andrew O'Shaughnessy crossing a smashing ball toward Seanie O'Connor who in turn found Niall Moran to score the first of his five points from play.
Seconds later Brian Murray made a wonder save from Niall Gilligan, but moments later all his good work was undone when Pat Vaughan's long-range delivery eluded Tony Griffin and Stephen Lucey before squeezing by Brian Murray in the Limerick goal.
That goal hurt Limerick; they wouldn't score again for another 16 minutes while in the interim Clare landed 1-2. Both points for Clare came from placed opportunities while the second Clare goal proved as fortunate as the first.
First Mark Foley and then Seamus Hickey had time to gather possession and clear; they failed to do so and Jonathan Clancy raced in behind the Limerick defence to leather the ball home - 0-4 2-4.
Niall Moran mustered a reply for Limerick in the 29th minute, but Clare were thriving at this stage with Mark Flaherty and Tony Carmody adding points before Andrew O'Shaughessy closed out the half with a free.
At the break Limerick trailed Clare by seven points (0-6 to 2-7), but there was hope. After the interval Limerick dispensed with their tactic of using Donnacha Sheehan as a third midfielder and charged back into the game.
Sixteen minutes into the second half Limerick were within two points - 1-10 to 2-9.
The half-back line had steadied a little, Ollie Moran was flying and the midfield duo of Mike O'Brien and Donal O'Grady were on fire.
The Limerick goal arrived in the 39th minute when a monster puck-out from Brian Murray broke to Ollie Moran and he blasted a rasper past Philip Brennan. Mike O'Brien scored a smashing point in the 45th minute and when Ollie Moran landed a magnificent effort in the 46th minute to bring the Shannonsiders within two the game was there for the taking.
Donie Ryan had replaced Donnacha Sheehan upfront, Seamus Hickey was back in the corner, Mark O'Riordan was hurling well on the wing and all was going well.
That is until Stephen Lucey and Seamus Hickey tangled under a dropping ball and Barry Nugent snuck in to claim Clare's third goal in the 54th minute.
Diarmuid McMahon helped himself to a fourth Clare goal three minutes later and before Limerick knew it they were seven behind - 1-11 (14) to 4-9 (21).
Limerick did their best in a frantic finish out-scoring Clare five points to three, but conceding four goals for the first time since their All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Wexford in 2001 had already cost them their place in a Munster final.
During the remaining 16 minutes (three minutes of injury time) Clare's Niall Gilligan scored two points (one a free which looked wide) while Barry Nugent stole the ball off Stephen Lucey to notch another.
O'Shaughnessy (free), Donie Ryan, Niall Moran (two) and a scintillating Damien Reale effort dragged Limerick back to within five points of Clare and even though Brendan Bugler was sent off for a horrible pull on Niall Moran Limerick had little chance of launching a comeback. A goal-mouth scramble following an injury time 21-yard free from Andrew O'Shaughnessy proved the final action of a heart-breaking afternoon.

Limerick: Brian Murray, Damien Reale (0-1), Stephen Lucey, Mark O'Riordan, Seamus Hickey, Paudie O'Dwyer, Mark Foley (captain), Mike O'Brien (0-1), Donal O'Grady (0-1), Mike Fitzgerald, Ollie Moran (1-1), Niall Moran (0-5), Andrew O'Shaughnessy (0-6, 5 frees), Sean O'Connor, Donnacha Sheehan. Subs: Donie Ryan (0-1) for Donnacha Sheehan, Barry Foley for Mike Fitzgerald, Pat Tobin for Sean O'Connor

Clare: Philip Brennan, Gerry O'Grady, Frank Lohan, Pat Vaughan (1-0), Brendan Bugler, Conor Plunkett, Patrick Donnellan, Brian O'Connell (captain), Colin Lynch (0-1), Tony Carmody (0-2), Diarmuid McMahon (1-0), Jonathan Clancy (1-2), Tony Griffin, Niall Gilligan (0-3, 2 frees), Mark Flaherty (0-3, 3 frees) Subs: Declan O'Rourke for Tony Griffin Subs: Barry Nugent (1-1) for Mark Flaherty, Gerry Quinn for Conor Plunkett, Fergal Lynch for Diarmuid McMahon

Referee: Eamonn Morris (Dublin)