Valiant Rebels just fall short;
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Clare 3-26 Cork 3-24
Clare reignited their Munster SHC hopes as they came from seven points down to beat 14-man Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.
The Banner County, beaten by a late Limerick fightback at Cusack Park last week, trailed by 1-17 to 0-13 after Cork plundered an unanswered 1-4 early in the second half. However, after points from Aidan McCarthy and Diarmuid Ryan were answered by a Horgan free, Mark Rodgers’ goal – well set up by Shane O’Donnell – left just three in it.
Two David Reidy points cut the gap still further and that one-point gap still pertained in the 52nd minute, when Cork lost captain Seán O’Donoghue to a second booking. Having done well to got a block in on Rodgers, O’Donoghue fouled Shane O’Donnell and his dismissal was followed by McCarthy’s 10th point to leave the sides tied at 1-20 each.
The next score was a pivotal one as Ryan took advantage of the space in the Cork defence and passed to O’Donnell. The scorer of three goals in the 2013 All-Ireland final replay had time to steady himself before rifling a shot past Patrick Collins and Clare led from there.
That’s not to say that the closing stages were boring, though: Clare pushed five ahead after David Fitzgerald capped good work by John Conlon and Rodgers to make it 3-22 to 1-23 and the wing-forward added a point immediately after.
However, Cork gave themselves hope as Patrick Horgan fired a free to the net – the veteran attacker would finish with 2-10 – and though Clare pushed five ahead in injury time, another Cork goal, from Robert Downey, left two in it with time almost up.
A late effort by Cork sub Damien Cahalane was blocked by Rodgers at one end and Clare sub Aron Shanagher looked to have made it safe but he was pulled up for over-carrying. Brian Lohan’s side didn’t need it though and they face into a three-week break in positive mood before welcoming Waterford to Ennis.
For Cork, there are 13 days until their very last chance, the visit of Limerick, which is a must-win if they are to have any hope of advancing. One tiny consolation is that the Rebels managed such a feat in 2022 after losing their opening two matches.
They looked to have got on top after a slow opening as goal chances began to materialise as half-time approached. Cork trailed by 0-9 to 0-8 when Darragh Fitzgibbon might have more severely tested Eibhear Quilligan with a shot while Alan Connolly levelled at 0-10 on 29 minutes with a deft flick which hit the top of the crossbar and went over.
Though McCarthy put Clare back in front, Cork hit a vein of form with four in a row, from Fitzgibbon, Declan Dalton (two) and Ciarán Joyce, to open up a three-point lead, 0-14 to 0-11.
McCarthy pulled one back for Clare before the break and then Rodgers pointed on the restart, but Cork replied with the goal as Horgan seized on a loose ball and delicately scooped past Quilligan – the retreating Rory Hayes just unable to keep it out.
Séamus Harnedy, Dalton and Horgan pushed them seven clear, but Clare were far from done.
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-10 (8fs), Mark Rodgers 1-6 (1f, 1 sideline), David Fitzgerald, Shane O’Donnell 1-1 each, David Reidy 0-3, Peter Duggan, Diarmuid Ryan 0-2 each, David McInerney 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 2-10 (1-7fs, 2 65s), Declan Dalton 0-4 (3fs), Séamus Harnedy 0-3, Robert Downey 1-0, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Alan Connolly 0-2, Tim O’Mahony, Ciarán Joyce, Shane Kingston 0-1 each.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; Cathal Malone, Cian Galvin; David Fitzgerald, David Reidy, Peter Duggan; Mark Rodgers, Shane O’Donnell, Aidan McCarthy.
Subs: Séadna Morey for Galvin (52), Conor Leen for McInerney (62), Paul Flanagan for Conlon (70), Aron Shanagher for McCarthy (70+3).
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Seán O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Ciarán Joyce, Robert Downey; Ethan Twomey, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Ger Millerick for O’Mahony (7-8, temporary), Mark Coleman for Twomey (49), Robbie O’Flynn for Dalton (60), Luke Meade for Harnedy (54), Shane Kingston for Hayes (59), Damien Cahalane for O’Mahony (65, injured).
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
