*Seadna Morey’s introduction was a big lift for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’S senior hurlers produced a commanding second half to overcome Cork and start their National League bid with a win.
Clare 1-25
Cork 2-19
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
A strong second half showing saw Clare get their Division 1A Allianz National Hurling League off to a winning start at Cusack Park this Sunday afternoon.
Before an attendance of 7,380, things didn’t look good for the Banner side at half time as they led by just a point having played with the aid of a strong wind. In the third quarter they outscored their opponents, 0-7 to 0-1, helped by dominance in the midfield area.
Cork rallied and they had moved to within two points of the home side with six minutes remaining but just when Leeside fans looked like they might see their side hit the front, Clare struck for their goal from Seadna Morey whose introduction at half time played a huge part in this victory.
A magnificent cross field pass from David Fitzgerald found Morey and he made no mistake, stretching the home side’s lead to five points.
Clare showed two changes to the team announced on Friday night with Sean Rynne from Inagh/Kilnamona and Gearoid Sheedy from Ogonnelloe making their debuts at this level. They came in for Paddy Donnellan and Shane Meehan.
With the assistance of the wind Clare raced into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead by the end of the opening quarter.
A great Cork move saw Shane Kingston provide the pass to Patrick Horgan and he found the net at the turn of the second quarter.
The visitors piled on the pressure and the Clare defence struggled for a while and as the game approached the half hour mark wing back Tommy O’Connell came up field and fired home his side’s second goal which tied up the contest at 0-11 to 2-5.
When the half time whistle sounded Clare were a point ahead, 0-14 to 2-7 and they were always in front from here on.
Seadna Morey’s introduction resulted in the home side dominating at midfield where the Sixmilebridge man teamed up with his fellow clubmate Cathal Malone and this led to Clare’s dominance in the second half which led to the winning of frees which Mark Rodgers converted. The Scariff clubman contributed 0-13, eleven coming from placed balls.
After being under pressure for a period in the opening half, Clare defence showed a big improvement after the break. Malone and Morey dominated the midfield exchanges while up front Rodgers, David McInerney and David Reidy got through a lot of good work.
In addition Clare managed to give valuable game time to Shane Meehan, Patrick Crotty and Keith Smyth.
Next Sunday Clare travel to play Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford who also made a winning start to this campaign when accounting for Offaly at Tullamore.
Brian Lohan and his management team will be keeping a close eye on the Fitzgibbon cup quarter finals this week when a number of the squad will be in action
Scorers; Clare; Mark Rodgers (0-13, 11 frees); Seadna Morey (1-1); Cathal Malone, Davie Reidy, Robin Mounsey, David Fitzgerald (0-2) each; David McInerney Gearoid Sheedy, Shane Meehan (0-1) each
Scorers Cork: Patrick Horgan (1-7); Tommy O’Connell (1-0) Sean Twomey, Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston, Shane Barrett (0-2) each; Sean O’Donoghue, Ciaran Joyce, Cormac O’Brien, Robbie O’Flynn (0-1) each
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
3: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4: Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6: David McInerney (Tulla)
7: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
8: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
22: Sean Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona
10: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
11: Robin Mounsey (Ruan)
20: Gearoid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe)
13: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
14: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
12: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs:
19: Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) for Rynne (half time)
17: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin for Sheedy (48)
15: Shane Meehan (Banner) for McCarthy (53)
24: Patrick Crotty (Scariff) for Mounsey (65)
26: Keith Smyth (Killanena) for Reidy (68)
Cork:
1: Patrick Collins
2: Niall O’Leary
3: Eoin Roche
4: Sean O’Donoghue
5: Tommy O’Connell
6: Ciaran Joyce
7: Cormac O’Brien
8: Brian Roche
9: Eoin Carey
10: Sean Twomey
11: Conor Lehane
12: Shane Kingston
13: Robbie O’Flynn
14: Patrick Horgan
15: Brian Hayes
Subs:
22: Luke Meade for B. Roche (47)
25: Shane Barrett for B. Hayes (55)
21: Micheal Mullins for E. Carey (60)
24: Robbie Cotter for R. O’Flynn (67)
23: Jack O’Connor for Lehane (69)
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)
