*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s minor hurlers will line out in the Munster final for the third year in succession.
Clare 2-22
Cork 0-19
Venue: Páirc Uí Chaoimh
A fine all-round performance made it four wins from four in the Electric Ireland Munster MHC for Clare on Thursday night.
Brian O’Connell’s side will face Tipperary in the provincial final on Monday, May 20 after they pushed clear of Cork in the second half at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Having been level at half-time, the visitors got on top in the early stages of the second half and their grip was tightened as Liam Murphy struck for his second goal on 52 minutes.
That made it 2-17 to 0-17 for Clare and they powered on in the dying minutes to round off an excellent round-robin campaign.
They had to work for the victory though, not least because the permutations beforehand were such that a Cork win had the potential to deny Clare a final spot if Tipperary recorded a big win over the already-eliminated Limerick.
As things transpired, Tipp’s narrow win wouldn’t have been enough to knock Clare to third place and a place in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals but the team dealt with the task in front of them in a mature fashion.
Cork had found some early form as three Mark O’Brien points put them 0-5 to 0-2 in front but Harry Doherty, the sole survivor from last year’s All-Ireland win, pulled one back before Murphy struck for the first of his goals.
After Paul Rodgers – playing at the same ground where his brother Mark had done so well against the Cork seniors a week and a half previously – had a shot saved by Cork goalkeeper Josh Goulding, Murphy reacted quickest to fire home. When impressive centre-back James Cullinan Murphy with a good pass moments later, he added a point to make it 1-4 to 0-5.
O’Brien’s points kept Cork in touch though and he did put them back in front coming up to half-time but a fine Patrick Finneran effort for Clare sent the sides in level, 0-11 to 1-8.
On the restart, Doherty put Clare in front and, though O’Brien levelled, it was the last time the sides were tied. Doherty set Finneran up for the lead score again before Murphy got his second point and then Finneran claimed the resultant puckout to open up a three-point advantage.
Whenever Cork came back, as they did with a pair of O’Brien points and then one from sub Joe Twohig, Clare had a response, with Murphy again on target before Doherty finished a lovely move, Finneran with a beautiful cushioned pass.
Even so, Cork might have drawn level on 49 when Michael Tadhg Brosnan unleashed a rasping shot from a tight angle but Matthew Crotty saved well. The importance of that intervention was shown minutes later as sub Michael Vaughan launched a long ball forward, allowing Murphy to claim possession and race free to slot home.
A six-point lead was never likely to be reeled in but Clare made sure the night was theirs as they added late scores, with subs Ryan Hayes and Darragh Ball getting on the scoresheet.
Scorers for Clare: Liam Murphy 2-3, Harry Doherty 0-6 (0-4f), Paul Rodgers, Patrick Finneran 0-3 each, Jerry O’Connor 0-2, Darren Moroney, James Cullinan, Matthew Corbett (0-1f), Ryan Hayes, Darragh Ball 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Mark O’Brien 0-11 (0-6f, 0-2 65), Kevin Beechinor 0-2, Jack Hegarty, Luke Murphy, Fionn Lardner, Joe Twohig, Peter Barrett, Jack O’Brien 0-1 each.
CLARE:
1. Matthew Crotty (Scariff)
2. Darren Moroney (Éire Óg Ennis)
3. Seán McNamara (Clooney-Quin)
4. Seán Óg Kilkenny (Bodyke)
5. Dara Kennedy (Ballyea)
6. James Cullinan (Ruan)
7. Rian Mulcahy (Éire Óg Ennis)
8. Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
9. Matthew Corbett (Clooney-Quin)
10. Darragh McNamara (Clooney-Quin)
11. Patrick Finneran (Clooney-Quin)
12. Harry Doherty (Clarecastle)
13. Jerry O’Connor (Clooney-Quin)
14. Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
15. Liam Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
Subs:
20. Michael Vaughan (Broadford) for McNamara (half-time)
17. Ryan Hayes (Tulla) for Corbett (47)
22. Darragh Ball (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) for Finneran (54)
23. Jake Gibbons (Whitegate) for O’Connor (59)
19. Evan Crimmins for Graham Ball (60)
CORK:
1. Josh Goulding
2. Cian Denis O’Connor
3. Rian O’Riordan
4. Liam Kelleher
5. Kevin Beechinor
6. Conor Noonan
7. John Murphy
8. Jack O’Brien
9. Jack Hegarty
10. Leo Hennessy
11. Mark O’Brien
12. Luke Murphy
13. Adam Lee
14. Fionn Lardner
15. Michael Tadhg Brosnan
Subs:
24. Joe Twohig for Lardner (half-time)
23. Peter Barrett for Twohig (35-36, blood
17. David Enright for O’Riordan (40)
Barrett for Lee (44)
19. Oisín O’Connell for Hennessy (47)
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary).
