*Michael Collins again impressed for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
When the need was greatest, Clare responded admirably to brush aside a previously unbeaten Cork and book their place in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final.
Clare 0-17
Cork 0-12
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Needing a victory to keep their fate in their own hands, Clare were by far the better side but simply failed to demonstrate that superiority on the scoreboard over the hour. Remarkably, Brian O’Connell’s side hit nearly as many wides as scores as their 17 point total was almost matched by 16 wides.
What it did highlight was how hungry Clare were to secure their third victory of the campaign and backed by inspirational performances from central defenders Ronan Keane and James Hegarty allied to tireless performances from Michael Collins and Eoin Oige Fanning, Clare finally seized full control of proceeding in the final 20 minutes.
Level on five occasions in the opening period, Clare’s paltry conversion rate from frees was in contrast to Johnny Murphy’s unerring freetaking for the Rebels to keep in touch.
James Hegarty took over that responsibility while Jack Mescall fired an injury-time point to give the home side a 0-9 to 0-8 edge by the break.
The only way was up for Cork, who sorely missed the talismanic Barry Walsh for scores, and they did storm out of the blocks to raid for three of the first four points to nudge in front at 0-11 to 0-10 by the 37th minute.
Amazingly, it was to be their final score until injury-time as Clare swallowed up Cork’s puck-outs and laid siege on they visitors half over the next 15 minutes. The wides kept coming but thankfully so did the flow of scores as Marc O’Brien (2), James Hegarty (2), Michael Collins, Sean Arthur and substitute Eoin Begley soared to a seven point unanswered rally to seal victory long before the final whistle.
A flagging Cork were surprisingly subdued but will have to dust themselves down quickly as they now face a winner-takes-all final round showdown away to Limerick next Tuesday for a place in the Munster Final. A win or draw is good enough for Limerick to advance directly to the decider, with the loser of that clash in the TUS Gaelic Grounds to face Clare in a semi-final seven days later.
Scorers for Clare: James Hegarty (0-4, 3f); Marc O’Brien (2f); Michael Collins (0-3 each); Eoin Oige Fanning, Sean Arthur (0-2 each); Ronan Keane, Jack Mescall, Eoin Begley (0-1 each)
Scorers for Cork: Johnny Murphy (0-5f); Ben Walsh, Conor McCarthy (0-2 each); Finn O’Brien, Sean Meade, James O’Brien (0-1 each)
Clare
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
3: Ronan Keane (Killanena)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
4: Eoin Carey (Cratloe)
7: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnnamona)
5: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
8: Jack Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona)
9: Emmet Mulcahy (Tulla)
12: Sean Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
11: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
10: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
13: Eoin Ogie Fanning (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
14: Marc O’Brien (Cratloe)
15: Michael Power (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
Subs
24: Evan Price (Clarecastle) for Mulcahy (37)
17: Fred Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Kilroy (41, inj)
22: Eoin Begley (Clonlara) for Fanning (46)
20: Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) for Power (52)
19: Mark O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Gunning (57, BS)
Cork
1: Oisin Walsh (Youghal)
2: Oier O’Callaghan (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels)
3: Darragh McCarthy (Passage)
4: Carthaigh Cronin (Midleton)
5: Cillian O’Callaghan (Dungourney)
6: Ben Walsh (Killeagh) Captain
7: David O’Leary (Ballincollig)
8: James O’Leary (Lisgoold)
9: Conor McCarthy (Glen Rovers)
19: Jayden Casey (Youghal)
11: Zack Biggane (Charleville)
10: Johnny Murphy (Dromina)
13: Sean Meade (Killeagh)
14: Barry O’Flynn (Sarsfields)
15: Finn O’Brien (Erins Own)
Subs
20: James O’Brien (Cloyne) for McCarthy (44)
23: Ronan Dooley (Douglas) for O’Brien (46)
22: Conor McCarthy (St Finbarr’s) for O’Leary (50)
21: Patrick Walsh (Carrigtwohill) for Murphy (51)
18: Johnny Galvin (Éire Óg) for Casey (54)
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)
