*Clare full back Adam Hogan. Photograph: Martin Connolly
Clare’s minor hurlers have qualified for the Munster final for the first time in two years after edging out Cork on Sunday.
Clare 0-18
Cork 2-11
Venue: Cusack Park
Cormac Murphy struck the all-important winner with the final shot on goal in an exciting contest that served as the curtain raiser to the senior clash.
Kilmaley’s Sean Ronan would level matters with a superb effort four minutes earlier. The substitute dodged and dipped past four Cork defenders all the while controlling the sliotar on his hurley before slotting over from an acute angle.
Having built up a six point half-time advantage, the concession of two second half goals in the space of a minute meant Fergal Lynch’s side had a very nervous finish to proceedings.
Cork centre forward Darragh Flynn raised the two green flags for John Considine’s Cork as they expectedly forced their way back into the game. However Clare never relented no matter how big the fightback to secure their first win over Cork at this grade since 2012, their last meeting at Cusack Park.
Limerick await Clare in the decider where the Banner will hope to overturn the result from their encounter last week.
Scorers for Clare: S Meehan (0-06 6f), D Cahill (0-04), C Hegarty (0-03), C Murphy (0-02), K O’Connor (0-02), S Ronan (0-01)
Scorers for Cork: D Flynn (2-02 2f), E Twomey (0-03), J Cahalane (0-03 1’65), D O’Leary (0-02), P O’Riordan (0-01)
CLARE: A Shanahan; J Collins, A Hogan, S Devanney; C O’Meara, C Galvin, T Butler; O Clune, O O’Donnell; C Murphy, C Hegarty, K O’Connor; D Cahill, S Meehan, D Downes.
Subs: S Ronan for Downes (52), K Smyth for O’Connor (56), C Beirne for O’Meara (60)
CORK: B Saunderson; S Kingston, Cian McCarthy (Blackrock), C O’Brien; Cian McCarthy (St Oliver Plunketts), C Joyce, B O’Sullivan; L Horgan, E Twomey ; I Walsh, D Flynn, D Hogan; Colm McCarthy, J Cahalane, P O’Riordan.
Subs: L Mulroy Quilligan for C McCarthy (HT), D O’Leary for C McCarthy (HT), C O’Donovan for O’Riordan (52), T Walsh for I Walsh (58), J Carr for Colm McCarthy (61)
Referee: J O’Halloran (Limerick)
