Clare 1-28
Cork 1-13
CLARE MAINTAINED THEIR grip on the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling championship in style tonight in Ennis as they cruised to victory over Cork in the decider.
For the third successive year Clare were crowned provincial champions at this grade and after winning the All-Ireland titles for the last two seasons, they will hope to reign supreme on the national stage again in 2014.
Antrim will be their opponents in their semi-final tie on August 23rd and Clare will be strongly fancied to prevail and go forward to the decider in September. Their golden age in U21 hurling continues as they only lifted their first Munster crown in 2009.
Tonight the Banner justified their tag as heavy favourites with an outstanding display and their powerful first-half showing that saw them go in front by 13 points at the interval proved the launchpad for their success.
Shane O’Donnell celebrated his return to the starting line-up by bagging a goal while Colm Galvin gave a man-of-the-match display at midfield. In defence Jack Browne was outstanding, Bobby Duggan finished as top scorer with ten points while Aaron Cunningham, Tony Kelly and David Reidy all impacted in the scoring stakes as well.
Cork had no answer as they couldn’t replicate their semi-final form against Waterford when they racked up 3-18 in Walsh Park. Rob O’Shea and Michael Collins were the best of their forwards while their defence fought admirably in the second-half but by that juncture the contest was settled.
Clare set their stall from the outset to lead by 0-4 to 0-0 after 6 minutes and had stretched that to 0-8 to 0-1 by the 20th minute mark. They finished off the game before half-time as they strung together another series of points while O’Donnell found the net in the 22nd minute after being set up by club mate David Reidy.
Cork trailed by 1-15 to 0-5 at the interval and tried hard in the second-half. Senior star Alan Cadogan was closely watched by Seadna Morey all night but he did get free to draw a brilliant save from Clare goalkeeper Keith Hogan in the 41st minute.
Cork did find the net moments later when Anthony Spillane booted home after a goalmouth scramble. But Clare upped the ante in the closing quarter with substitutes Shane Gleeson and Cathal O’Connell catching the eye as they ran out convincing winners to the delight of the home support.
Scorers for Clare: Bobby Duggan 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Aaron Cunningham 0-4, Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin, David Reidy 0-3 each, Shane O’Donnell 1-0, Peter Duggan, Shane Gleeson, Cathal O’Connell (0-1f) 0-2 each.
Scorers for Cork: Rob O’Shea 0-7 (0-5f), Michael Collins 0-3, Anthony Spillane 1-0, Shane O’Keeffe, Mark Sugrue, Killian McIntyre 0-1 each.
CLARE
1. Keith Hogan (Clooney-Quin)
2. Jarlath Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
3. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
5. Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea)
6. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
7. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. Eoin Enright (Kilmaley)
10. Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea – captain)
12. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
13. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
14. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones)
15. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs
17. Shane Gleeson (Cratloe) for Bobby Duggan (42)
25. Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara) for O’Donnell (54)
19. Alan O’Neill (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) for Cleary (56)
18. Shane McGrath (Feakle) for Enright (57)
24. Brian Carey (Sixmilebridge) for Colleran (59)
CORK
1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
2. Stephen Murphy (Blackrock)
3. Colm Barry (Castlelyons)
4. Cian Buckley (Na Piarsaigh)
5. Kevin Kavanagh (Carrigaline)
6. Killian Burke (Midleton – Captain)
22. Cormac Walsh (Midleton)
8. Darragh Brosnan (Brian Dillon’s)
9. Rickard Cahalane (Ballymartle)
10. Shane O Keeffe (Blackrock)
11. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)
12. Michael Collins (Ballinhassig)
13. Anthony Spillane (Castlelyons)
14. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
15. Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline)
Subs
19. Mark Sugrue (Bandon) for Walsh (13)
7. Killian McIntyre (Carrigaline) for Cahalane (half-time)
21. Mark O’Connor (Douglas) for Anthony Spillane (52)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
