Munster SHC: Cork cruise into provincial final

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

CORK 1-30 CLARE 1-14

By Jack McKay at SuperValue Páirc Uí Chaoimh

There may not have been much at stake here at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but Clare’s All-Ireland title credentials have been handed another stern reality check.

A 16-point drubbing here from Cork to go with their 15-point hammering from Limerick earlier in the campaign. It leaves the Banner going through to the All-Ireland series with questions they look unfit to answer.

They scored 1-7 from play here across 76 minutes on Sunday, of which 1-1 came in added time when Cork had long switched off, withdrawn key players and were cruising to the finish line.

The goal arrived courtesy of sub Shane Meehan, who recovered Shane O’Donnell’s blocked shot to finish to the net on 75 minutes, while another substitute – Cian Galvin – knocked over the final point. That they were so far behind at that stage, the goal offered little consolation.

By the interval here in this Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 4 clash it was already game, set and boxful of matches.

Five of Cork’s six forwards were on the scoresheet at that point. Diarmuid Healy was the only one yet to raise a flag, and yet had been so influential in the middle third picking up possessions and driving them inside for the St Finbarr’s double act, Brian Hayes and William Buckley.

It was fitting too that the pair combined for Cork’s goal as Eoin Downey picked out Buckley with a well-timed sideline cut, and Buckley turned, slipped past Rory Hayes as the Clare man lost his footing. Afterburners ignited, he closed the space to goal, then passed to an unmarked Hayes who struck with ease beyond Eibhear Quilligan.

That bolstered the Cork lead to five, and it would become six at the break.

On the resumption they powered further clear, Buckley nailing an outrageous over the shoulder point before Barrett raised another white flag. They would finish with four and five points from play respectively. Conlon could not handle Barrett, and Darragh Lohan failed to deal with Buckley, though Lohan’s replacement Rory Hayes had much greater joy, even if he was caught for the goal.

Alan Connolly and Brian Hayes added scores in the third quarter, Shane Kingston came off the bench for his first championship minutes to send his first of three over the bar.

By the 47th minute, Cork’s advantage was 1-19 to 0-10. Half-back Diarmuid Ryan did what he could, but the fact he was more threatening up front than any of the Clare forwards told all.

Shane O’Donnell’s one point was the only score the Banner’s starting six mustered all game.

Diarmuid Stritch and Sean Rynne were completely muzzled, and Duggan was wrapped up too by Damien Cahalane. Only Ian Galvin threatened early when he had the upper hand in his duel with Sean O’Donoghue. The Clare forward slipped through in the second minute after an excellent pass from O’Donnell, but Patrick Collins made a good save.

Galvin’s second attempt came even closer, he thundered down the sideline before batting for goal, only to see his ball hit the post and travel across the line, where everyone converged on the ball, leaving Johnny Murphy to call a clash ball.

After the early let-offs Cork would quickly forge ahead, six of the next seven points pushing them 0-8 to 0-3 clear, with Shane Barrett and Buckley picking off supreme efforts, while O’Donoghue tightened up.

From there, Clare would get no joy anywhere on the pitch, and were picked apart all too easily.

Cork march on to a Munster final with Limerick, while Clare have work to do between now and their All-Ireland quarter-final.

Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-11 (0-8 f), Brian Hayes 1-2, Shane Barrett 0-5, William Buckley 0-4, Shane Kingston 0-3, Barry Walsh 0-2, Eoin Downey, Damien Healy and Tim O'Mahony (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), Shane Meehan 1-1, Diarmuid Ryan 0-3, Shane O'Donnell and Cian Galvin 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Damien Cahalane, Seán O'Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O'Mahony, Tommy O'Connell; Barry Walsh, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy; William Buckley, Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly. Subs: Shane Kingston for Hayes (45), Ger Millerick for Cahalane (55), Cormac O'Brien for R Downey (57), Hugh O'Connor for O'Mahony (58), Pádraig Power for Walsh (58).

Clare: Éibhear Quilligan; David McInerney, Adam Hogan, Darragh Lohan; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, Niall O'Farrell; Tony Kelly, Seán Rynne; Cathal Malone, Diarmuid Stritch, David Fitzgerald; Ian Galvin, Peter Duggan, Shane O'Donnell. Subs: Rory Hayes for Lohan (13, inj), David Reidy for Stritch (23-28 temp), Cian Galvin for Conlon (42), Jack Kirwan for Fitzgerald (45), Shane Meehan for I Galvin (46), Reidy for Malone (57).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).