CORK 6-20 CLARE 0-23

By Eoin Brennan at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg

Pat Ryan hadn’t beaten Clare in five previous league and championship bouts but he certainly made up for lost time after putting the holders to the sword at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg in Ennis.

Six timely goals sunk the Banner in both this tie and Division 1A itself as a fourth defeat in five matches relegated Clare from the top tier less than twelve months after securing the title.

Add in red cards for Peter Duggan and David Fitzgerald and, all-in-all, it was a thoroughly forgettable afternoon for Brian Lohan’s side and an opportune boon for the Rebels who not only exacted revenge for last summer’s All-Ireland final defeat but also laid down a marker ahead of their Munster Championship rematch at the same venue in six weeks’ time.

Brian Hayes (3), Declan Dalton (2) and Shane Barrett completed the goalfest which metronomically sapped the home sides confidence at regular intervals.

The first stemmed through a penetrative run and finish from Barrett in only the eighth minute, Brian Hayes set up Declan Dalton to fire the second six minutes later while Hayes would bat the third past goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan in the 26th minute to keep the home side at arm’s length.

Aidan McCarthy’s frees ensured that Clare matched the visitors on points but those majors clearly defined the narrative that stood at 3-9 to 0-9 by the break.

An encouraging start with the introduction of Peter Duggan soon turned sour for the Banner on the resumption as a buoyant Cork couldn’t believe their luck as they picked off three further goals through Hayes (2) and Dalton inside 13 minutes of the restart at 6-13 to 0-14.

If that wasn’t harrowing enough for the home side, a straight red card for substitute Duggan at the turn of the final quarter only added to Clare’s misery as it proved the death knell to any faint hopes of a revival.

The tie rather petered out from there, save from an injury-time battle between David Fitzgerald and Cormac O’Brien that saw both dismissed by referee Liam Gordon.

On a day in which the number of cards reached double figures, it tees their rematch up perfectly for an Easter Sunday showdown.

Scorers for Cork: Declan Dalton 2-6 (2f); Shane Barrett 1-4; Brian Hayes 2-1; Ethan Twomey, Patrick Horgan (3f) 0-3 each; Brion Saunderson 1-0 (1-0f); Brian Roche 0-2; Sean O’Donoghue 0-1

Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-12 (11f, 1’65); Sean Rynne, Tony Kelly 0-2 each; David Fitzgerald, Jack O’Neill, Ryan Taylor, Mark Rodgers, Aron Shanagher, Robin Mounsey, Shane Meehan 0-1 each

Cork: Brion Saunderson; Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Tommy O’Connell, Robert Downey, Cormac O’Brien; Tim O’Mahony, Ethan Twomey; Shane Barrett, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Brian Roche; Declan Dalton, Patrick Horgan, Brian Hayes

Subs: Luke Meade for Barrett (22-23, BS), Micheál Mullins for O’Connell (HT), Damien Cahalane for E. Downey (47), Patrick Collins for Saunderson (52-56, BS), Jack Cahalane for Barrett (53), Jack O’Connor for Hayes (53), Diarmuid Healy for Roche (64)

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan, Conor Leen; John Conlon, Cathal Malone, David McInerney; Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor; David Fitzgerald, Tony Kelly, Sean Rynne; Jack O’Neill, Aidan McCarthy, Mark Rodgers

Subs: Rory Hayes for Lohan (22-23, BS), Peter Duggan for McInerney (HT), Hayes for Cleary (43), Aron Shanagher for Rynne (49), Robin Mounsey for O’Neill (54), Shane Meehan for Rodgers (66)

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)

Cork Camogie will play their second home league game of the season at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, taking on Kilkenny this Saturday at 2 PM.

Come out and show your support for the Rebels as they battle it out in this exciting clash! Let’s fill the stands and create an electric atmosphere.

Stadium Information:

• Gates Open: 1 PM
• Seating: South Stand Lower only
• Tickets: Required for all attendees, including U16s
• Under 16s: Free entry when accompanied by an adult

Tickets Information

Tickets are available

Getting to the Stadium

Walking: The stadium is a 25-minute walk from Cork city centre and connects via the Mahon to Passage Greenway Walk.
Public Transport: Bus routes 202 and 212 stop near the stadium. Kent Station is a 35-minute walk away.

Parking

No parking at the stadium.
Alternative parking options:

• Mahon, Páirc Uí Rinn, City Centre Car Parks, Kennedy Quay
• Local rowing clubs also offer parking
• Suttons Carpark (provided by Lee Rowing Club, as the Marina will be very busy on the day)
  Gardaí will enforce a cordon around the stadium – plan your travel accordingly.

Facilities

Food & Drinks: Food counters, sweet shops, and bars will be open throughout the stadium.

SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh thanks fans for their support.
We look forward to an exciting afternoon of camogie!

For updates, visit www.gaacork.ie or follow @paircuichaoimh on social media.