*Clare captain Graham Ball with John Barry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s minor hurlers went into depths of their resolve and courage to record an incredible semi-final win over Cork in FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, overturning a seven-point deficit from the previous meeting between the sides to qualify for a second All-Ireland minor hurling final in four years.
Clare 0-27
Cork 1-22
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
By Enda Treacy
A ferociously fought and tight contest throughout between two evenly matched teams played out before a raucous support in Thurles, but it was Clare who showed the steel and level-headedness in the final ten minutes to claim the win in a game where there was never more than one score in it.
The meeting in Tulla during the Munster round robin back in April was certainly in the back of the minds as that particular contest turned into a score-fest with six goals and over 40 points scored that day, and it was telling in the Clare approach as they setup to curtail the Cork attack from the outset.
This game was the polar opposite with Clare far more robust in a defensive sense, limiting Cork to just two shots at goal – albeit one of which they converted – as the Banner boys largely won the physical exchanges and looked that bit more composed in possession, especially when the chips were down late on.
Clare raced into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead inside four minutes before Cormac Deane landed that early blow with a cleverly finished effort from the 14-ard line, but it didn’t faze the Banner lads in any way as they continued to play their game.
Paul Rodgers was the scorer-in-chief once again for Clare and after his opening score from a free inside 90 seconds, he hit his second, third, and fourth between the 11th and 15th minutes to push Clare into an 0-8 to 1-2 lead, playing against a decent breeze.
Cork won their Munster crown by virtue of some really dangerous forwards in their ranks and it was the figures of Eoghan O’Shea and Craig O’Sullivan that were the providers up front again; the pair hitting two fine scores along with a point for midfielder Ryan Dineen to level the game shortly afterward with ten minutes to go before the interval.
The presence of Dara Kennedy at the heart of the Clare defence was missing from the April fixture and he made in presence felt throughout the game, including in the first half, hitting some wonderful deliveries into the inside line that bore scores for Ian O’Brien and Rory Ralph.
Indeed, Kennedy and Rodgers were leading by example as Rodgers chipped over a classy sideline cut in the 21st minute, shortly before Kennedy landed a long range point after bursting out of the backline with possession and striking off his trusted left side.
Clare were in the ascendancy, leading 0-13 to 1-7, but Cork managed to stay in touch by the half-time whistle with the aforementioned O’Shea and O’Sullivan, along with a brace from Sam Ring keeping them in contention.
The final act of the first half came from a possession starved Liam Murphy who finished off a lovely passage of play by firing over from close range; Clare leading at the interval by 0-15 to 1-10. All to play for in the second half.
The middle third battle – which is so often the battleground for the winning of games these days – was being shaded by Clare but Cork came out fighting after the resumption to try and turn that on its head.
And they did so by hitting three points in as many minutes after the restart with Craig O’Sullivan hitting a brace (1 free), along with a Cormac Deane effort while under an advantage for a foul. Clare’s lead wiped out in the blink of an eye.
The nerves didn’t tell in Clare’s play though, and after Paul Rodgers settled things with a converted free in the 35th minute, it was back into the tit-for-tat battle that ensued for much of the first half.
Frees were the main currency for scores for both sides up the the three quarter mark of the game as Rodgers and O’Sullivan traded efforts, but Clare pushed themselves out into a two point lead by the 46th minute with Ben Talty’s fine score after a strong run added to by a fine effort from recently introduced substitute John Barry.
Clare had a few chances to extend that lead but Rodgers left a few scores behind from frees that he would usually nail in that time, and it gave Cork impetus to level the game yet again by the 51st minute with O’Sullivan having no such troubles, hitting two frees to bring the sides level at 0-22 to 1-19.
Bravery would be required for Clare because they were the team on top in the second half, and the players continued to play the percentage with the short puck out, running the ball well in the next few minutes to set up scores for Liam Murphy, Ian O’Brien, and Rodgers (free) to maintain their lead with five minutes remaining.
The decibel levels went up a notch in the ground with the minutes ticking down and despite Cork managing to get the deficit back to a single point – and even having a shot from range drop short from Michael T Brosnan to level the game – Clare’s youngsters showed real composure to hold out, run the ball, and draw a late free for Paul Rodgers to convert after three minutes of additional time.
Referee Conor Doyle sounded the whistle to an explosion of Clare applause as the county’s minor hurlers fashioned a win full of bravery and heart to take a scalp over Munster champions Cork, and, in the process, book and All-Ireland final date with Waterford in two weeks time.
The close nature of the game was exciting but it must be said, that Clare were the stronger outfit in the second half, and only for some poor wides at different stages, it could have been a more comfortable finish for Ger O’Connell’s side who hit double the amount of wides versus Cork wides on the day.
Scorers: Clare: Paul Rodgers (0-13, 0-10f, 0-1 sl-cut), Ben Talty, Ian O’Brien 0-3 each, Rory Ralph, Liam Murphy 0-2 each, James O’Donnell, Dara Kennedy, Evan Cleary, John Barry all 0-1 each.
Scorers: Cork: Craig O’Sullivan (0-8, 0-6f), Eoghan O’Shea 0-5, Cormac Deane 1-2, Michael T Brosnan (0-3, 0-1f), Sam Ring 0-2, Jack Counihan, Ryan Dineen 0-1 each.
Clare:
1. Leon Talty (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
2. Niall Doyle (Éire Óg)
3. Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
4. Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge)
5. Evan Crimmins (Newmarket on Fergus)
6. Dara Kennedy (Ballyea)
7. Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
8. Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
9. Evan Cleary (Ballyea)
10. Rory Ralph (Clarecastle)
11. James O’Donnell (Broadford)
12. Ben Talty (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
13. Ian O’Brien (Cratloe)
14. Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
15. Liam Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
Subs:
23. Eoin O’Connor (Ballyea) for B Talty (8, blood – reversed 13)
20. John Barry (Inagh Kilnamona) for Ralph (36)
23. Eoin O’Connor for B Talty (51)
21. Gavin Marshall (Parteen Meelick) for O’Donnell (60)
17. Darragh Murrihy (Inagh Kilnamona) for Daly (63)
Cork:
1. Tom C Walsh (Aghada)
2. Darragh Heavin (Russell Rovers)
3. Denis Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers)
4. Cian Lawton (Midleton)
5. Michael T Brosnan (Glen Rovers)
6. Bobby Carroll (Dromina)
7. Colm Garde (Lisgoold)
8. Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill)
9. Ryan Dineen (Erin’s Own)
10. Ruairc Donovan (Fermoy)
11. Cormac Deane (Killeagh)
12. Craig O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Seán Coughlan (Passage)
14. Eoghan O’Shea (Ballinhassig)
15. Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill)
Subs:
17. Jack Counihan (Watergrasshill) for Coughlan (43)
19. Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh) for Dineen (52)
24. Adam Dunlea (Sarsfields) for Tom A Walsh (60)
Referee: Conor Doyle (Tipperary)
