Clare have been knocked out of the U20 Munster football championship with a four point defeat to Cork.

Cork 1-16
Clare 0-15
Venue: Pairc Uí Rinn

Coming away from Cork with a win is never easy but a strong start to the contest from Seamus Clancy’s charges gave life to this belief.

They built up a 0-06 0-02 inside the opening quarter, they seemed to be riding out the storm with netminder Stephen Ryan pulling off a save to prevent a Mark Keane goal.

Another Cork goal chance wasn’t capitalised on but they stayed patience and wing forward Chris Óg Jones soon raised a green flag, the Iveleary finished the evening with a tally of 1-08. He kicked the final score of the half to leave the Rebels leading by the minimum at half-time.

They wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of the first half twice, they nailed five points without reply at the beginning of the third quarter. This was the advantage they needed to muster and from here they weren’t going to be caught.

Clare weren’t ready to go home just yet and found energy towards the finish. Two goal chances came their way but neither Tom Hannan or Colm O’Brien had the conviction to rattle the net. Corner back Jack Sheedy popped up with a late point but ultimately their resurgence wasn’t enough to upset the Leesiders who now face Kerry in the final, the Kingdom defeated Waterford 3-22 0-01.

Best for Clare on the day were Jonah Culligan and Dermot Coughlan who between them scored 0-09 with Jayme O’Sullivan continuing to show promise as an inter-county defender. Not enough threat was posed by their full-forward line, five players featured in this area of the field and amassed only 0-02.

Their attack would have been greatly boosted with the presence of Éire Óg’s Gavin Cooney. The nineteen year old however is ineligible for the grade because he came on for the Clare seniors in their twenty two point defeat to Kerry in the Munster SFC. His clubmate Danny Griffin would have made an impact in the middle third but missed out due to injury,

Cork
1. Ian Giltinan (Carrigaline)
7. Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
3. Brian Murphy (Nemo Rangers)
2. Nathan Walsh (Douglas)
4. Liam O’Donovan (Clonakilty) (0-01)
6. Aidan Browne (Newmarket)
5. Tadhg Corkery (Cill na Martra)
8. Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty)
11. Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg) (0-01)
20. Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown)
12. Cathal Maguire (Castlehaven)
13. Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary) (1-08 3f)
14. Matthew Bradley (Aghabullogue) (0-03 1f)
10. Mark Keane (Mitchelstown)
15. Damien Gore (Kilmacabea)
Subs
18. Seán O’Sullivan (Mitchelstown) for Corkery (half-time)
22. Mark Buckley (Dohenys) for Shanley (half-time)
23. Colm Barrett (St Finbarr’s) (0-02) for Bradley (half-time)
24. Blake Murphy (Na Piarsaigh) for Maguire (42)
17. Alan McCarthy (St Finbarr’s) for Walsh (49)
21. Cillian Myers Murray (St Finbarr’s) for Gore (52)

Clare
1. Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2. Jack Sheedy (St Breckans) (0-01)
3. Jayme O’Sullivan (Wolfe Tones)
4. Peter Collins (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
6. Mark Meaney (Coolmeen)
5. Ikem Ugweuru (Éire Óg)
7. Tom Hannan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) (0-01)
8. Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels) (0-01)
9. Jack Hannan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
10. Jonah Culligan (Ballyvaughan) (0-05)
11. Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (0-04 1f)
12. Seán Crowley (Kilmihil) (0-01)
15. Ross Phelan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
14. Joe McGann (St Breckans) (0-01)
13. Cian Shannon (Ennistymon)
Subs
21. Ross O’Doherty (Ennistymon) for Shannon (half-time)
19. Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey) for Crowley (48)
17. Colin McNelis (Clondegad) for Collins (49)
18. Niall Ellis (Shannon Gaels) for Hannan (51)
20. Colm O’Brien (St Breckans) (0-01) for Phelan (52)
22. Jamesie O’Connor (St Josephs Miltown) for Coughlan (57)

Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry)