*Photograph: Colin Guilfoyle tackles Kevin Hehir by Martin Connolly
In their first outing of the new season, Clare’s senior hurlers defeated Cork.
Clare 1-20
Cork 0-21
Venue: Cusack Park
A strong finish from the hosts which saw them hit 1-03 without reply in the final six minute saw them claw the game from Cork who had led from the beginning.
John Meyler’s Cork were certainly the happier team heading in at half-time boasting a 0-13 0-07 advantage with Declan Dalton slotting six points. Clooney/Quin’s Keith Hogan had to make two saves in the opening half while at the other end the forwards were guilty of poor shooting.
However the only score that matters is the one at the final whistle and substitute Colin Guilfoyle netted the all-important goal with two minutes of normal time remaining to reduce the gap to a single point. A free from Niall Deasy levelled matters before Cratloe’s Diarmuid Ryan getting the winning point.
Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor’s charges travel to Waterford on January 6th, the Déise will play Cork first on January 2nd.
Clare: Keith Hogan; Jason McCarthy, David Fitzgerald, Rory Hayes; Aidan McCarthy, Colm Galvin, Cathal Malone (0-01); Shane Golden, David Conroy (0-02); Diarmuid Ryan (0-02), Niall Deasy (0-10 7f), Ryan Taylor (0-01); Gary Cooney (0-03), Aron Shanagher, Michael O’Neill. Subs: Colin Guilfoyle (1-00) for Conroy (51 mins), Conor Cleary for Galvin (54 mins), Jack Browne for Fitzgerald (59 mins), Cathal McInerney (0-01) for Shanagher (65 mins).
Cork: Pa Collins, Sean O’Donoghue, David Griffin, David Lowney, Christopher Joyce, Tim O’Mahony, Robert Downey; Conor Cahalane, William Kearney; Cormac Murphy (0-01), Michael O’Halloran (0-04), Aidan Walsh; Jamie Coughlan (0-04 1f), Declan Dalton (0-10 7f 2’65 1SC), Robbie O’Flynn (0-02). Subs: Cormac Beausang for Kearney (63 mins).
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
