*Keelan Sexton and Eoin Cleary celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE HAVE defeated Cork in the Munster SFC for the first time since 1997.
Clare 0-14
Cork 0-13
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
A rousing second half-display saw Clare come from four points down with forty minutes on the clock to record a memorable one point win over the Rebels, the winning score coming from corner back Cillian Rouine.
Having been relegated from Division 2 of the Allianz NFL, confident vocal backers of Clare overcoming the challenge of Cork were few and far between, especially given that the Leesiders had eight points to spare when they meet in the League back at the beginning of March.
However it was the persons with knowledge of the group and the character that they possessed would not see this as a shock result. Eoin Cleary when speaking to The Clare Echo in advance of the clash clearly outlined that this group perform when their backs are to the wall and that is just what they did, in spades.
Despite the disappointment of the league, their year will certainly be classed as a positive one if they can now overcome Limerick in the semi-finals to qualify for the provincial final which will also secure their spot in the All-Ireland SFC.
Without question, the first half from a Clare perspective was irritating. Their tackling gave referee Fergal Kelly the easy choice of giving Cork frees which Steven Sherlock was unerring from. All but one of their return in the opening half came from placed balls.
This was addressed somewhat at the interval and combined with the introduction of Darren O’Neill at the break was a major turning point.
Vital moments when the need was greatest included Stephen Ryan fetching a Rory Maguire shot from the sky to stop Cork from landing what would have been an equaliser, Cillian Brennan landing invaluable turnovers and blocks in the second half, Ciaran Russell’s lung-busting run to set up Cillian Rouine for the winner, Jamie Malone’s countless efforts at succeeding in breaking the Cork line.
Clare’s character came to the fore when it needed to and it’s why they are preparing for a Munster semi-final.
Keelan Sexton helped Clare to what seemed was a bright start, kicking two scores off either foot. The first resulting from Cathal O’Connor winning back possession, finding Emmet McMahon who popped to Dermot Coughlan, he found his Kilmurry Ibrickane clubmate in space and the second arose due to a turnover from Ciaran Russell.
Cork aided by Clare’s sloppy tackling were level on thirteen minutes with Steven Sherlock slotting two frees. Eoin Cleary responded to put Clare back in front on fifteen minutes but Cork hit three on the bounce, two from Sherlock and one from centre-back Rory Maguire, their only score from play in the opening half.
Podge Collins put his name on the scoresheet but his effort was cancelled out by a Sherlock free to leave Cork 0-06 0-04 ahead at half time. The Rebels came within inches of raiding for goal, they tore through the Clare defence and Brian O’Driscoll’s rocket was denied by the crossbar, Stephen Ryan getting his finger tips to push the ball off the bar with twenty minutes on the clock.
Again Clare were first off the mark when play resumed, Emmet McMahon lifting the crowd with his effort. Cork responded to stall any potential momentum from building, kicking three in a row, two from Sherlock and one from Sean Powter to lead by four, the biggest gap of the contest.
Keeping Cork scoreless for a fourteen minute spell allowed Clare to get back on level terms, captain Eoin Cleary was on target from play and a free while Keelan Sexton and McMahon also chipped in. Full-back Cillian Brennan made a vital tackle on corner forward Chris Óg Jones in what would be an important momentum from quelling a Cork comeback.
Sherlock then traded scores with Sexton and Cooney to see the sides remain deadlocked before Jamie Malone stepped up to put Clare ahead on sixty one minutes and back in front for the first time since the fifteenth minute. Prior to regaining the advantage, they had a goal chance but Darragh Bohannon’s shot was stopped by Micheál Aodh Martin, the resulting 65 from Keelan Sexton also trailed wide.
Belief was building, it may have been interrupted by Sherlock again splitting the posts, Cleary did likewise at the other end to see Clare stay one point clear.
Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan caught an effort from Rory Maguire which would have levelled matters but there was nothing he could do to stop corner back Kevin O’Donovan from doing so with seventy three minutes on the clock.
Then came the moment that will go down in Clare football folklore, wing-back Ciaran Russell produced the lung-busting run, a clear example as to how he passed fitness tests to join An Garda Síochána, he popped to Cillian Rouine who smartly carried the ball forward and fisted it between the posts to record a superb victory for the Banner.
Central to Clare turning the game around was the half-time introduction of Darren O’Neill. This combined with better concentration on their tackling technique and composure in front of goal was key to the outcome.
In what is only Clare’s fourth championship win over the Leesiders following wins in 1936, 1941 and 1997, it serves as a fitting way to kick off Colm Collins’ tenth campaign in charge. It was a fine team display interspersed with the character and spirit that long-term supporters of this side have come to love and expect.
Star performers on the day included Ciaran Russell, Keelan Sexton, Cillian Brennan, Stephen Ryan, Darren O’Neill, Eoin Cleary and Cillian Rouine.
For Cork, the result leaves them in no man’s land as to what competition will they now compete in. They could end up in the All-Ireland SFC but could easily be in the Tailteann Cup, depending on results. Goals were crucial to them when they last were victorious in Ennis, they struggled to find scores except from frees on this occasion. The midfield pairing of Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan together with Steven Sherlock and Kevin O’Donovan did best for John Cleary’s men.
Scorers for Clare: K Sexton 0-4, E Cleary 0-4 (0-1 f), E McMahon 0-2, J Malone, P Collins, C Rouine, G Cooney 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: S Sherlock 0-10 (0-7 f, 0-1 45), S Powter, R Maguire, K O’Donovan 0-1 each.
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
5: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
6: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
7: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
8: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
11: Emmett McMahon (Kildysart)
12: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Eoin Cleary (C) (St Joseph’s Miltown)
14: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
Subs:
24: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg) for O’Connor (HT)
17: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg) for for Coughlan (50)
23: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg) for McMahon (68)
25: Alan Sweeney (St. Breckan’s) for Collins (72)
Cork:
1: Michéal Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers)
2: Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
3: Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree)
4: Tommy Walsh (Kanturk)
5: Luke Fahy (Ballincollig)
6: Rory Maguire (Castlehaven)
7: Mattie Taylor (Mallow)
8: Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg)
9: Ian Maguire (St Finbarrs)
10: Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree)
11: Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues)
12: Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
13: Sean Powter (Douglas)
25: Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s)
15: Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary)
Subs
20: Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig) for McSweeney (48)
24: Conor Corbett (Clyde Rovers) for Óg Jones (56)
22: John O’Rourke (Carberry Rangers) for O’Driscoll (68)
19: Cian Kiely (Ballincollig) for Fahy (68)
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
