Cork 1-24
Clare 0-24
AFTER THE FOG of Mallow, came the clear and bright conditions of Páirc Uí Rinn for the Cork hurlers.
The plug was pulled late last Sunday before the start of their Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League game against Limerick, but there was no such issues today for Cork. The temperature was low but visibility did not interfere with hurling against a Clare side, that had a run out in Clarecastle last Wednesday night.
An early Conor Lehane strike to the net for Cork, the game’s solitary goal, transpired to be the separating factor on the scoreboard at the finish.
A blast of Clare points saw them chip away substantially at the Cork advantage, but late frees from substitute Darragh Flynn and goalkeeper Brion Saunderson ensured Pat Ryan’s team rounded off the action in a successful fashion.
Cork will point the team bus towards Rathkeale on Wednesday night to take on the All-Ireland champions, the winners of that game will progress to the decider next Sunday against Waterford of the provincial pre-season tournament.
The home support did not have to wait long for cause to cheer, Lehane cutting through the Clare defence with intent to net after the first minute. They didn’t raise any further green flags, but Jack O’Connor surged through twice in the first half to appear on the cusp of converting, his first shot was blocked by Cian Broderick and the second flashed over the bar instead of hitting the roof of the net.
There was little to split the teams in that opening period, both still warming to the task in this 2024 campaign with just a fortnight elapsed in the New Year.
Cork carried a touch more scoring power in the first half, which enabled them to go ahead 1-16 to 0-14 at the interval. Shane Kingston bagged eight points in that period, supplying half of that tally from play, while Conor Lehane weighed in with 1-3 and newcomer Robbie Cotter picked off three nicely-struck points.
Clare were reliant on Aidan McCarthy’s direction in attack that yielded seven first-half points, while Robin Mounsey sparkled alongside him with four to his credit before the break.
Both teams made four changes apiece at the interval and the benches were continuously emptied during the third quarter. That time frame saw Cork maintain control. Cormac Beausang’s point from play and Darragh Flynn’s converted free, left them seven clear at 1-22 to 0-18 by the 59th minute.
That sense of control suddenly slipped away. Clare mounted a ferocious charge for the line as they picked off six points in a row courtesy of McCarthy (3), Keith Smyth (2) and Colm O’Meara.
They had Cork within their sights after trimming the deficit to one, but the home team managed to steady their challenge. Flynn nailed a free in attack and Saunderson came out of goal to launch another over from distance. A three-point success sets them up for the trip to Limerick, Clare turn their attention to the National League action next month.
Scorers for Cork: Shane Kingston 0-8 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Conor Lehane 1-3, Robbie Cotter 0-4, Darragh Flynn 0-3 (0-2f), Cormac Beausang 0-1, Jack O’Connor 0-1, Brian Hayes 0-1, Brion Saunderson 0-1 (0-1f), Robbie O’Flynn 0-1, Eoin Carey 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-13 (0-10f), Robin Mounsey 0-4, Keith Smyth 0-2, Cian Barron 0-2, Cathal Malone 0-1, Killian O’Connor 0-1, Colm O’Meara 0-1.
Cork
1. Brion Saunderson (Midleton)
17. Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields), 3. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), 2. Ger Millerick (Fr O Neill’s),
5. Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), 6. Tommy O Connell (Midleton), 7. Cormac O Brien (Newtownshandrum)
8. Eoin Carey (Kilworth), 22. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
10. Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers), 11. Conor Lehane (Midleton), 12. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
13. Jack O Connor (Sarsfields), 14.Brian Hayes (St. Finbarr’s), 15. Robbie Cotter (Blackrock)
Subs
- 26. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills) for Twomey (half-time)
- 24. Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin) for Lehane (half-time)
- 20. Daire O’Leary (Watergrasshill) for Joyce (half-time)
- 21. Sam Quirke (Midleton) for Brian Roche (half-time)
- 25. Shane Barrett (Blarney) for Dalton (inj) (42)
- 9. Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own) for Kingston (44)
- 23. Cormac Beausang (Midleton) for Jack O’Connor (48)
- 18. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers) for O’Brien (57)
- 4. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra) for Carey (70)
Clare
1. Cian Broderick (Clarecastle)
2. David Touhy (Clarecastle), 3. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley), 4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
7. Tadhg Dean (Crusheen), 6. Dylan McMahon (Clonlara), 5. Oran Cahill (Éire Óg Inis)
8. Aidan Moriarty (Clonlara), 9. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
13. Gearóid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe), 15. Robin Mounsey (Ruan), 12. Killian O’Connor (Corofin)
11. Cian Barron (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), 14. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona), 26. Stephen Conway (Feakle)
Subs
- 17. Ross Hayes (Crusheen) for Cahill (32)
- 22. Eanna Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Conway (half-time)
- 19. Conn Smyth (Feakle) for Dean (half-time)
- 20. Paddy Donnellan (Broadford) for Moriarty (half-time)
- 23. Colm O’Meara (Clonlara) for O’Connor (half-time)
- 21. Keith Smyth (Killanena) for Sheedy (47)
- 25. Jack Kirwan (Parteen-Meelick) for Sheedy (50)
- 10. Keelan Hartigan (Scariff) for McMahon (57)
- 24. Diarmuid Cahill (Corofin) for Barron (57)
Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)
***
- An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Cork player Ciaran Joyce’s club.
