An absolutely epic National Hurling League quarter-final played out in the Gaelic Grounds this evening as Limerick's hurlers eventually overcame their Clare opponents after over 100 minutes of play.
Inseparable after 70, 90 and 100 minutes in the end, the tie went down to the free-taking competition in which both sides would have five shots from the '65 each.
Even that proved difficult; Limerick eventually running out 7-6 winners in a sudden-death scenario.
A tremendous game of hurling, many have expressed their disappointment that the tie had to end in the fashion it did however.
Wonderful display of sheer guts, commitment & skill by both Limerick & Clare Hurlers today. Congratulations Limerick on getting to Semi Final. But in my humble opinion there has to be a better way to settle things than taking 65’s ! It didn’t do it for me.@GaaClare @LimerickCLG
— Marty Morrissey (@MartyM_RTE) March 19, 2018
Nothing to do with Donie. That shoot out was a lottery...it could have gone either way. Well Done to Linerick. They are a great bunch of lads but I’m referring to the mechanism ..that’s all !
— Marty Morrissey (@MartyM_RTE) March 19, 2018
Massive Credit for Limerick and Clare for Serving up a WONDERFUL game of hurling. But very Unfair that a League Quarter Final should be decided on a Free Taking Competition after 4 Periods of Extra Time. The GAA giving these Amateur Players No Fair Play
— Buff Egan 🇺🇦 (@buff_egan) March 19, 2018
Penalties are often the most exciting part of a Soccer game but are an anticlimax in Hurling. Terrific entertainment and passion from Clare and Limerick this evening in the Gaelic Grounds. pic.twitter.com/TFK7NmMaRI
— Bleisce (@Dun_Bleisce) March 19, 2018
Both Limerick & Clare managers unhappy that a free taking competition determines the winner of #AllianzLeagues quarter-final. "It's not the way any hurling person wants to see a game end" - John Kiely #GAA
— Páraic McMahon (@thepmanofficial) March 19, 2018
So unfair on both Limerick & Clare. It would take the GAA to not be prepared for a potential replay! 🤔
— Anna Grehan (@AnnaGrehan) March 19, 2018
Limerick v Clare shootout. What a terrible way to decide a match. #gaa
— Ogie Horgan (@ogie_horgan) March 19, 2018
I wouldn’t be one for feeling sorry for Clare but for their 20+ players to be out there for 3 hours and to be put out of the competition like that isn’t sport #AllianzLeague #LimerickClare #GAA
— Darragh Durkan (@turkishDDlite) March 19, 2018
Pity the #limerick #clare match ended the way it did. I was really looking forward to the Rock, Paper, Scissor round to settle things. #GAA
— Dave G Kelly (@davegkelly) March 19, 2018
Some game of hurling. Sorry to see it end like that. Complete lottery. Limerick beat Clare by 1 point. #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO #gaa
— Gym Generator (@Gym_Generator) March 19, 2018
Speaking after the match, Limerick's John Kiely and Clare's Donal Moloney were not overly impressed with the system in place for deciding such games:
DM: It's not a satisfying way to end a match at all, I think for the spectators here as well, given that some of the other quarter-finals were postponed, there was every opportunity to play this [again] next weekend.
JK: It's not the way to finish a game, but ... it's outside our control. It's certainly not the way any person involved in hurling wants to see a match finish.
