Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship

CORK 0-26 CLARE 3-13

By Denis Hurley at Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Six unanswered points got Cork’s Munster MHC campaign off to a winning start against Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

With four minutes remaining, Clare led by 3-13 to 0-20 after Aidan Moriarty scored his second point, but it was to be their last as Cork finished strongly with scores from Alan Connolly, Paddy O’Flynn (two each), Cathal Hickey and Daniel Hogan to take the points.

While Cork had the game’s opening score with an Evan Murphy 65 in the third minute, it was the only time that the hosts led, with the excellent Mark Rodgers scoring a fine goal in immediate response.

Cork levelled through their excellent captain Shane Barrett and Murphy, but Rogers struck again to put Clare 2-0 to 0-3 in front after good work from Gearóid O’Grady. Murphy’s points kept Cork in touch and it needed a good Cillian O’Brien save to deny him a goal on 14 minutes.

The home side were level at 0-10 to 2-4 when Pádraig Power points on 20 but Clare scored another goal as Gearóid O’Grady exchanged passes with Kealan Guyler and fired home, and they led by 3-7 to 0-14 at half-time.

Connolly, just on, got the first of three consecutive Cork points as they drew level by the 40th minute. Clare looked to be able to constantly answer the home efforts, but the loss of Tony Butler to a second yellow card was a blow to them.

They looked to be able to hang on, but Cork dug deep and reeled them in.

Scorers for Cork: Evan Murphy 0-8 (0-6 frees 0-1 65), Shane Barrett 0-5, Alan Connolly 0-4 (0-2 frees), Paddy O’Flynn 0-2, Cormac O’Brien (65), Cillian O’Donovan, Olan Broderick, Paul Cooney, Daniel Hogan, Pádraig Power, Cathal Hickey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Mark Rodgers 2-2, Gearóid O’Grady 1-1, Kealan Guyler 0-3 (0-2 frees), Aidan Moriarty, William Halpin 0-2 each, Darragh Healy, Fionn Slattery, Shane Meehan 0-1 each.

**CORK: **Cian Long (Glen Rovers); Christian Murphy (Midleton), Padraic Cullinane (Ballinascarthy), Cian O’Donovan (Sarsfields); Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Luke Horgan (Glen Rovers), Cillian O’Donovan (Douglas); Olan Broderick (Killeagh), Paul Cooney (Balincolig); Kevin Moynihan (Na Piarsaigh), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Daniel Hogan (Sarsfields); Pádraig Power (Blarney), Paddy O’Flynn (Bride Rovers), Evan Murphy (Glen Rovers). Subs: Alan Connolly (Blackrock) for Moynihan (24), Cathal Hickey (Lisgoold) for Murphy (47), Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin) for Broderick (53).

CLARE: Cillian O’Brien (Clonlara); Jack Enright (Newmarket), Adam Mungovan (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Mike Gough (Smith O’Briens); Tony Butler (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Dylan McMahon (Clonlara), Darragh Healy (Clarecastle); Jason Griffin (Inagh/Kilnamona), Fionn Slattery (Bodyke); Aidan Moriarty (Clonlara), Gearóid O’Grady (Kilmaley), William Halpin (Tulla); Mark Rodgers (Scariff), Kealan Guyler (Inagh/Kilnamona), Shane Meehan (Banner).

Subs: Conor Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Griffin (38), Conor Carrig (Wolfe Tones) for Slattery (44), Josh Brack (Clarecastle) for Halpin (53), Jack Minogue (Bodyke) for O’Grady (59), Tadgh Dean (Crusheen) for Enright (59).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)