Darragh Murrihy clears his lines under pressure from Callum Coffey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’S three year winning streak over Cork in the Munster minor hurling championship is over after the Rebels reigned supreme in Tulla to comfortably account for the hosts.
Cork 3-24
Clare 3-17
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla
An abundance of sharpshooters coupled with their ability to hurt Clare on their own puckouts and hoover up possession in the middle third saw Cork claim a second win in this year’s championship to move to top of the table in the round robin series.
For the Rebels, it is their first time overcoming Clare at this grade since 2021 when they ran out 6-28 0-6 winners. The margin was far from that on this occasion but Cork were deserving of their seven point success.
In particular, Cork’s half-back line and midfield really dominated while five of their starting six forwards registered on the scoreboard. The sides were level six times in the opening half but the Leesiders outscored Ger O’Connell’s Clare 0-9 0-2 in the third quarter to turn the tie on its head.
Last week, an exciting seven point turnaround saw Clare overcome Tipperary by two points but there was no such dramatics this time round as a late consolation goal from John Barry made the scoreline look more favourable but the major could prove significant if scoring difference comes into play later on in the campaign.
Over the hour, Clare had fourteen wides, three shots in a row in the second quarter were off target and should have been converted to put them in a much stronger position with the aid of the slight breeze.
On the attacking front, both Paul Rodgers and Liam Murphy were very lively but were starved of possession, they had 2-7 between them. Rodgers was moved out to wing-forward in the second half to try maximise his influence.
A dream start saw Clare go 1-1 in front within ninety seconds of the throw-in. John Barry first converted a free before the resulting puckout fell in the path of Evan Crimmins from a ruck and he played an excellent delivery to Liam Murphy who turned his marked and fired low to the back of the net.
Then Cork gave their first glimpse of their ability to respond as they hit three of the next four scores to reduce the deficit to two points by the fifth minute.
Murphy was in for his second goal on six minutes when Paul Rodgers was the provider. Celebrations were much shorter for this one as Cork worked the ball up the field and cancelled out the green flag when Callum Coffey raided for goal. They then levelled matters with points from Cormac Deane and Cian O’Sullivan.
Wing forward Rian Dineen gave the visitors the lead for the first time on thirteen minutes and Clare found themselves back on level terms when Zak Phelan split the posts after they calmly worked the play following a Leon Talty puckout.
Two Rodgers points were met with two O’Sullivan white flags before Cormac Deane restored the lead in Cork’s favour on twenty six minutes. John Barry converted two frees in the space of three minutes to see Clare hold a slender one point lead at half time.
On the restart Cork seemed to blow Clare away and picked off scores at their ease. They hit four points without reply before John Barry opened Clare’s second half account on thirty five minutes.
Another run of four points on the trot followed from Cork as Banner belief and morale seemed to dwindle.
Ian O’Brien had a chance to pull a goal back for Clare following a precision delivery from Rodgers, the Cratloe man controlled the sliotar tremendously but was hooked and his kick of the sliotar went the wrong side of the post. Two minutes later, Cork struck for their second goal with Callum Coffey again raising the green flag.
A rally of three points in succession helped the Clare supporters find their voice as hopes were growing of a potential comeback, they managed to reduce the arrears to six points but were dealt a suckerpunch when Coffey collected his hat-trick to cement the victory on fifty three minutes.
Following good attacking play from Liam Murphy, Clare managed to work a shot which John Barry saw over the line, an effort that will prove costly to Cork should they concede on bigger days this year.
For the winners managed by Fergal McCormack, they excelled up front with Na Piarsaigh duo Callum Coffey and Craig O’Sullivan always threatening, Cormac Deane was lively throughout while their half-back line of Michael T. Brosnan, Bobby Carroll and Colm Garde were prominent for the hour.
With two away ties ahead, Clare still have every chance of progressing in this competition despite the disappointing nature of this defeat and second half display. Restarts and breaks are two areas they will need to improve on while some alterations to their half-forward line and full-back line may need to be considered. The duo of Paul Rodgers and Liam Murphy led the way in attack while Sixmilebridge pair Zak Phelan and Jack O’Halloran on the respective wings in defence flanked by Evan Crimmins of Newmarket-on-Fergus got through a lot of work.
Scorers for Cork: C O’Sullivan 0-14 (0-6f, 0-2 65), C Coffey 3-1, C Deane 0-3, E O’Shea 0-2, TA Walsh, MT Brosnan, R Dineen, E Connolly 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: J Barry 1-5 (0-3 f), L Murphy 2-2, P Rodgers 0-5 (0-2 f), Z Phelan 0-2, I O’Brien, C Daly, J Gibbons 0-1 each.
Cork:
1: Tom C Walsh (Aghada);
4: Cian Lawton (Midleton)
3: Denis Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers)
2: Darragh Heavin (Russell Rovers)
5: Michael T Brosnan (Glen Rovers)
6: Bobby Carroll (Dromina)
7: Colm Garde (Lisgoold)
9: Jack Counihan (Watergrasshill)
8: Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill)
10: Ruairí Donovan (Fermoy)
11: Cormac Deane (Killeagh)
12: Rian Dineen (Erin’s Own)
13: Eoghan O’Shea (Ballinhassig),
15: Craig O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh).
14: Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh)
Subs:
17: Seán Coughlan (Passage) for Counihan (42),
19: Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill) for Donovan (53),
18: Evan Connolly (Dungourney) for Dineen (54),
21: Charlie Hanratty (Carrigaline) for TA Walsh (59),
23: Senan Carroll (Midleton) for O’Shea (60+2).
Clare:
1: Leon Talty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
4: Cormac Gunning (Broadford)
3: Niall Doyle (Éire Óg)
2: Darragh Murrihy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
5: Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge)
6: Evan Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
7: Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
8: Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
9: Evan Cleary (Ballyea)
10: Gavin Marshall (Parteen/Meelick)
11: John Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona)
12: Ian O’Brien (Cratloe)
13: James O’Donnell (Broadford)
14: Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
15: Liam Murphy (O’Callaghans Mills)
Subs:
17: Cathal O’Doherty (Cratloe) for Gunning (22) (inj)
20: Rory Ralph (Clarecastle) for O’Donnell (HT)
21: Jake Gibbons (Whitegate) for Marshall (44)
18: Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for O’Brien (49)
19: Jason Keane Hayes (Kilmaley) for Cleary (56)
Referee: Ciarán O’Donovan (Tipperary)
