Clare 1-14
Cork 0-14

SHANE O’DONNELL’S GOAL in the second-half was the critical score as Clare got 2016 off to a winning start against Cork in the Munster senior hurling league today in Sixmilebridge.

New Clare selector Donal Óg Cusack went up against his native Cork for the first time and secured the spoils against a new Rebel management team that included his clubmate Diarmuid O’Sullivan.

O’Donnell pounced for the only goal of the match to settle an encounter that was tightly contested on the scoreboard.

2013 Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly was inspirational for Clare in the first-half as he weighed in with 0-5 while Ballyea clubmate Gearoid O’Connell also showed up well in that regard.

Clare's John Conlon gets clear of Cork's Mark Ellis and Damian Cahalane. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Clare were ahead 0-8 to 0-6 at the break with Paudie O’Sullivan and newcomer William Leahy keeping Cork in touch as they picked off points.

Kelly and Peter Duggan helped Clare make a storming start to the second-half as they increased their lead.

But O’Sullivan and Luke Meade were on target to help Cork reel back Clare and they edged 0-12 to 0-11 ahead.

Yet O’Donnell’s goal proved critical as Clare ran out three-point winners.

New Cork hurling manager Kieran Kingston with selector Diarmuid O'Sullivan Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 0-6 (0-4f), Shane O’Donnell 1-0, Gearoid O’Connell, John Conlon (0-1f), B. Duggan (0-1f) 0-2 each; Peter Duggan, Michael O’Malley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Paudie O’Sullivan 0-7 (0-6f), William Leahy 0-2, Patrick Collins (0-1f), Luke Meade, Paul Haughney, Mark Ellis, Dean Brosnan 0-1 each.

Cork

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Conor Twomey (Newtownshandrum)
3. Patrick O’Mahony (Midleton)
4. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)

5. Brian Moylan (Glen Rovers)
6. Damian Cahalane (St Finbarrs)
7. William Egan (Kilbrin)

8. Paul Haughney (Midleton)
9. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)

10. William Leahy (Aghada)
11. Paidi O’Sullivan (Cloyne)
12. Dean Brosnan (Glen Rovers)

13. Stephen Moylan (Douglas)
14. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
15. Trevor Horgan (Newcestown)

Subs
Luke Meade (Newcestown) for Horgan (41)
Patrick O’Rourke (Na Piarsaigh) for Cormack (50)
Darren Browne (Kanturk) for Twomey (inj) (55)
Niall Cashman (Blackrock) for Moylan (63)

Clare

1. Donal Tuohy (Crusheen)

2. Eoin O’Brien (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
3. Pat O’Connor (Tubber)
4. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)

5. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
6. Conor Ryan (Cratloe)
7. Gearóid O’Connell (Ballyea)

8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)

10. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea) – captain
12. Peter Duggan (Clooney Quin)

13. John Conlon (Clonlara)
14. Darach Honan (Clonlara)
15. David Fitzgerald (Inagh Kilnamona)

Subs
Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg) for Honan (45)
Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle) for Peter Duggan (48)
Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley) for Galvin (55)
Conor McGrath (Cratloe) for Ryan (65)

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