Eoin Brennan reports from Zimmer Biomet Páirc Uí Chíosóg
IF THE DRESS rehearsal was this dramatic, one can only imagine what awaits the Munster hurling championship opener in six weeks time.
It was utterly compelling viewing from start to finish this afternoon as six goals and three red cards dominated the narrative in a game where unlike its inch-tight All-Ireland Final predecessor last July, Cork ran out comprehensive winners in front of an 11,410 strong attendance.
Cork’s superior eye for goal throughout proved the defining feature of an expected heated encounter.
Three first-half majors for Shane Barrett, Declan Dalton and Brian Hayes were duplicated inside 13 minutes of the new half as Dalton, Hayes and an own goal off Darragh Lohan from a long range Brion Saunderson free finished the game as a contest at 6-15 to 0-14.
If that wasn’t forgettable enough for Brian Lohan’s side, Peter Duggan and David Fitzgerald would be issued straight red cards before the finish as was Cork’s Cormac O’Brien.
The result keeps Pat Ryan’s side firmly in the mix for a final place while effectively seals Clare’s relegation from the top tier less than twelve months after garnering the title.
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It was clearly a case of expecting the unexpected as Shane Barrett exploited a gap in Clare’s last line to break through for the opening goal in the eighth minute, a bounty that would be doubled six minutes later when Brian Hayes fed Declan Dalton to finish to the net at 2-3 to 0-2.
Clare looked to have steadied the ship through Inagh-Kilnamona pair Aidan McCarthy and Sean Rynne when hit by a third strike, this time Hayes himself batting to the net after being picked out by Tim O’Mahony as the Rebels raced to a double scores, 3-9 to 0-9, half-time cushion.
The introduction of Peter Duggan for his first action of 2025 looked to have turned the tide for the hosts as he caused serious problems for Cork’s last line early on. However, a second-half goal by Hayes emphatically halted the home side’s early charge, that would be completed by two additional Cork goals in the space of 60 seconds when first Dalton batted to the net, before that aforementioned own goal.
Peter Duggan receives a red card from referee Liam Gordon. James Lawlor / INPHO
James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO
Any remaining Clare defiance was extinguished by Duggan’s dismissal, albeit harsh at the turn of the final quarter and allowed Pat Ryan to empty his bench and run out handsome victors.
Aidan McCarthy’s frees proved Clare’s only solace as an already forgettable afternoon got even worse in the final minute when David Fitzgerald joined marker Cormac O’Brien on Liam Gordon’s red card list.
The countdown to Munster begins here.
Tim O`Mahony of Cork in action against Clare. James Lawlor / INPHO
James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO
Scorers for Cork: Declan Dalton 2-6 (2f); Shane Barrett 1-4; Brian Hayes 2-1:; Ethan Twomey, Patrick Horgan (3f) 0-3 each; Brion Saunderson 1-0 (1-0f); Brian Roche 0-2; Sean O’Donoghue 0-1
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-12 (11f, 1’65); Sean Rynne, Tony Kelly 0-2 each; David Fitzgerald, Jack O’Neill, Ryan Taylor, Mark Rodgers, Aron Shanagher, Robin Mounsey, Shane Meehan 0-1 each
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Cork fire six goals to defeat Clare in game where three sent off
Cork 6-20
Clare 0-23
Eoin Brennan reports from Zimmer Biomet Páirc Uí Chíosóg
IF THE DRESS rehearsal was this dramatic, one can only imagine what awaits the Munster hurling championship opener in six weeks time.
It was utterly compelling viewing from start to finish this afternoon as six goals and three red cards dominated the narrative in a game where unlike its inch-tight All-Ireland Final predecessor last July, Cork ran out comprehensive winners in front of an 11,410 strong attendance.
Cork’s superior eye for goal throughout proved the defining feature of an expected heated encounter.
Three first-half majors for Shane Barrett, Declan Dalton and Brian Hayes were duplicated inside 13 minutes of the new half as Dalton, Hayes and an own goal off Darragh Lohan from a long range Brion Saunderson free finished the game as a contest at 6-15 to 0-14.
If that wasn’t forgettable enough for Brian Lohan’s side, Peter Duggan and David Fitzgerald would be issued straight red cards before the finish as was Cork’s Cormac O’Brien.
The result keeps Pat Ryan’s side firmly in the mix for a final place while effectively seals Clare’s relegation from the top tier less than twelve months after garnering the title.
It was clearly a case of expecting the unexpected as Shane Barrett exploited a gap in Clare’s last line to break through for the opening goal in the eighth minute, a bounty that would be doubled six minutes later when Brian Hayes fed Declan Dalton to finish to the net at 2-3 to 0-2.
Clare looked to have steadied the ship through Inagh-Kilnamona pair Aidan McCarthy and Sean Rynne when hit by a third strike, this time Hayes himself batting to the net after being picked out by Tim O’Mahony as the Rebels raced to a double scores, 3-9 to 0-9, half-time cushion.
The introduction of Peter Duggan for his first action of 2025 looked to have turned the tide for the hosts as he caused serious problems for Cork’s last line early on. However, a second-half goal by Hayes emphatically halted the home side’s early charge, that would be completed by two additional Cork goals in the space of 60 seconds when first Dalton batted to the net, before that aforementioned own goal.
Any remaining Clare defiance was extinguished by Duggan’s dismissal, albeit harsh at the turn of the final quarter and allowed Pat Ryan to empty his bench and run out handsome victors.
Aidan McCarthy’s frees proved Clare’s only solace as an already forgettable afternoon got even worse in the final minute when David Fitzgerald joined marker Cormac O’Brien on Liam Gordon’s red card list.
The countdown to Munster begins here.
Scorers for Cork: Declan Dalton 2-6 (2f); Shane Barrett 1-4; Brian Hayes 2-1:; Ethan Twomey, Patrick Horgan (3f) 0-3 each; Brion Saunderson 1-0 (1-0f); Brian Roche 0-2; Sean O’Donoghue 0-1
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-12 (11f, 1’65); Sean Rynne, Tony Kelly 0-2 each; David Fitzgerald, Jack O’Neill, Ryan Taylor, Mark Rodgers, Aron Shanagher, Robin Mounsey, Shane Meehan 0-1 each
Cork
1. Brion Saunderson (Midleton)
2. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), 3. Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), 4. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
5. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), 6. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), 19. Cormac O’Brien Newtownshandrum)
8. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), 12. Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s)
11. Shane Barrett (Blarney), 9. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), 22. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
10. Declan Dalton (Fr. O’Neill’s), 14. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), 15. Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s)
Subs
Clare
1. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
3. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown), 2. Adam Hogan (Feakle), 4. Conor Leen (Corofin)
6. John Conlon (Clonlara), 8. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge), 22. David McInerney (Tulla);
7. Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones), 9. Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
10. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona), 15. Tony Kelly (Ballyea), 12. Sean Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona)
11. Jack O’Neill (Clooney-Quin), 13. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona), 14. Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
Subs
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
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Clare Cork GAA Hurling League Rebels