A general view of Austin Stack Park. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Munster MFC
Phase One Final
Clare 2-12 Tipperary 0-10
Quarter-final
Kerry 0-12 Cork 1-7
By Stephen Barry
For the second time this month, Conor Burke scored a match-winning tally of 1-8 as Clare claimed the Darrel Darcy Cup at Rathkeale.
Four weeks ago, Burke’s stoppage-time goal rescued Clare from defeat against Waterford. This time, his 62nd minute finish proved the clincher.
The Munster phase 1 competition outcome means the Banner will meet Cork in the Munster semi-final next Tuesday, while runners-up Tipp must tackle Kerry, who defeated the Rebels by two points in this evening’s other game.
The Premier made nine changes from their round-robin victory over Clare last time out, but it was one of the westerners’ two switches that made the difference. Seán Fennell came into the attack and he laid on both goals, scored three points, and won two converted frees.
Tipp had led at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5, after overcoming a rocky start in which Fennell had a shot on goal tipped over by Mark Conroy before Burke added another with a super jinking move.
Tipp had to wait until the 25th minute for Patrick McDonagh to kick their first from play to push them ahead. Dylan Cotter added a huge score moments later.
But Clare would outscore them 2-7 to 0-4 after the break. The opening goal in the 33rd minute came from Fennell’s reverse pass to the onrushing Shane O’Connell and gave them a lead they would never relinquish.
After Leo Switzer was denied by a Noah O’Flynn foot-block, Fennell could’ve netted himself, but he blasted over from the spot.
As Tipp chased a lifeline, a cramping Burke made the game safe with his final act to palm home at the end of a breakaway move.
At Austin Stack Park, Kerry had nine different scorers and all but one point from play as they drew first blood against a Cork side they could yet meet again in the final.
The Rebels only led once and that arrived with Danny Miskella’s goal from the penalty spot in the 20th minute after Finn O’Dwyer was tripped.
Kerry responded with the next four scores in a row, via Ronan Carroll (free), Joey McCarthy, Ben Murphy, and Gearóid White, to take a 0-7 to 1-2 half-time lead.
Cork closed the gap to the minimum with a Seán Whelton free and Dylan O’Neill point, but Michael Horan and Cian Mac Gearailt, with his first touch after being introduced, restored Kerry’s cushion.
Cathal McCarthy and O’Neill twice more brought the deficit back to one, but a second from substitute Mac Gearailt proved the insurance score.