Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1

Clare 3-21 Cork 2-24

By Eoin Brennan

Munster Championship hurling encapsulated in an eight minute vignette as the ultimate game of two halves played out in a thrilling opening draw in front of a capacity 20,778 in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg in Ennis.

Having battered the Banner by 15 points only six weeks earlier at the same venue on their way to a first National League success since 1998, Pat Ryan’s side again went for the jugular in a blistering first half display. A relentless bombardment reaped a brace of goals for Brian Hayes while Shane Barrett agonisingly just missed another before home goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan denied Alan Connolly and Darragh Fitzgibbon.

Without full-back Conor Cleary and subsequently Diarmuid Ryan through injury, Clare’s overworked defence were fortunate to restrict the visitors to two goals as despite a Peter Duggan goal attempt that was superbly stopped by Patrick Collins at the other end, Cork deservedly soared twelve points clear at 2-15 to 0-09 by the break.

The only way was up for the home side who now backed by the wind quickly went about slashing the arrears to just five as Aidan McCarthy and David Reidy picked off goals within six minutes of the resumption at 2-15 to 2-10.

To their credit, Cork did rally with the next three points through Patrick Horgan (2) and Alan Connolly to restore an eight point lead, a gap that would maintained as late at the 65th minute despite the Rebels being reduced to 14 men after Shane Barrett was issued a straight red card for an off-the-ball strike on David Reidy.

A third Clare goal, this time through chief target Peter Duggan in the 68th minute really ignited the All-Ireland champions who would actually grab 1-6 without reply to actually edge in front for the very first time with the six minutes of additional time elapsed.

Inevitably, there would be one more play and Cork relievedly capitalised as Ciaran Joyce earned a last gasp free for substitute Declan Dalton to convert.

Arguably on the balance of play, a opening stalemate was perhaps was the fairest outcome of what was another compelling wrestle for supremacy between these sides who only decided last July’s All-Ireland Final after extra-time.

With the conditions at their backs, the Rebels look to close out the contest when Brian Hayes cut inside from the right corner and batted to the net in the 16th minute before doubling the dose nine minutes later when set up by a combination of Patrick Horgan and Alan Connolly.

Part of a 1-6 unanswered blitz that saw five of Cork’s six forwards get in on the scoring action, nothing but a handsome Cork victory appeared on the cards as they eased to a twelve point half-time advantage.

Clare were not about to be humbled on their own home patch once more though, with Mark Rodgers playing in Aidan McCarthy to bat to the net in the opening minute of the new half while five minutes later Peter Duggan expertly diverted a Tony Kelly delivery into the path of the onrushing David Reidy to fire past Collins and slash the arrears to just five.

The sending off only spurred on the Banner backlash for one last drive and they almost pulled off an incredible comeback turnaround with Tony Kelly, David Reidy and substitute Ian Galvin to the fore.

Ironically after being comfortably twelve ahead by half-time, Cork were the ones that had to scramble for an opening point but it could yet prove vital if the Munster Championship continues in this dramatic vein.

Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 1-7 (6f); Tony Kelly 0-5 (2f); David Reidy 1-2 (2f); Peter Duggan 1-1; Mark Rodgers (2f), Ian Galvin 0-2 each; David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone 0-1 each

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-9 (6f, 1’65); Brian Hayes 2-2; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Alan Connolly 0-3 each; Shane Barrett, Tim O’Mahony 0-2 each; Seamus Harnedy, Brian Roche, Declan Dalton (f) 0-1 each

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Conor Leen, Darragh Lohan, Adam Hogan; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; Cathal Malone, Ryan Taylor; Tony Kelly, David Reidy, David Fitzgerald; Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan, Aidan McCarthy

Subs: Cian Galvin for Ryan (15, inj), Ian Galvin for McCarthy (57), Aron Shanagher for Rodgers (67)

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Ethan Twomey; Shane Barrett, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Seamus Harnedy; Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes, Patrick Horgan

Subs: Ger Millerick for R. Downey (44, inj), Declan Dalton for Harnedy (48), Brian Roche for Twomey (54), Shane Kingston for Horgan (60), Diarmuid Healy for Connolly (64)

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)