*Clare’s Diarmuid Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE HAVE QUALIFIED for the Munster senior hurling final for a successive season after overcoming Cork in a tense battle on Sunday afternoon.
Clare 2-22
Cork 3-18
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Diarmuid Ryan landed the winning score to see Clare through to the Munster final and ensure Cusack Park erupted in euphoria.
It seemed as though a draw would be the final outcome after Patrick Horgan had goaled with seven minutes remaining, bringing Cork back into the tie but on every turn Clare were able to answer what their opponents threw at them.
Horgan again equalised with seventy one minutes of play but it was the roving Ryan who finished with 0-03 from wing back that hit the all-important score to send Clare back to the provincial decider, their opponents for this will known in seven days after the final round of games.
Tense and physical from the get-go, both sides had their respective periods in front but on the whole, Clare’s spells in control were longer and greater, had they fell not emerged from Ennis victorious they would certainly have been annoyed.
Early scores from Tony Kelly and Ryan Taylor gave an indication of the atmosphere within Clare’s county town but Cork managed to level matters through a Patrick Horgan double. Seamus Harnedy shoved them in front for the first time on five minutes before Clare replied via David Fitzgerald and Tony Kelly.
Conor Cahalane struck for the first of the game’s five goals on eight minutes, Patrick Horgan setting up through on goal after Seamus Harnedy managed to turn over John Conlon.
Eibhear Quilligan produced a vital save to stop Conor Lehane from rattling the net moments later before both sides added two points each.
Cork’s three point advantage came undone when Clare fired four points in a row and raided for their first goal of the day through Tony Kelly on twenty eight minutes. Rory Hayes won back possession in defence, stormed clear and offloaded to Diarmuid Ryan who delivered the long ball to Peter Duggan, he batted to Kelly and the Ballyea man’s quick wrists saw him expertly dispatch the opportunity to the back of the net.
This along with Clare notching the final three scores of the half saw them hold a 1-13 1-08 advantage at the interval.
MORE TO FOLLOW
Scorers Clare:
Scorers Cork:
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
3: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
7: David McInerney (Tulla)
13: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
9: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
8: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
14: Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
11: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
12: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
10: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin)
15: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
Subs:
26: Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Cleary (34) (inj)
18: Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Rodgers (46)
20: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for McCarthy (53)
19: Shane Meehan (Banner) for Galvin (68)
Cork:
1: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
2: Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)
3: Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
4: Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra) Captain
5: Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)
6: Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr)
7: Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
8: Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
9: Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)
10: Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills)
11: Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
12: Luke Meade (Newcestown)
13: Conor Cahalane (St Finbarrs)
14: Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
15: Conor Lehane (Midleton)
Subs:
23: Shane Kingston (Douglas) for Lehane (42)
25: Shane Barrett (Blarney) for C Cahalane (45)
17: Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills) for O’Connell (46)
19: Tim O’Mahoney (Newtownshandrum) for Meade (61)
26: Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s) for Dalton (67)
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
