The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
By Seamus Hayes
Clare 5-16 Cork 3-16
What a day for Clare hurling. All-Ireland senior hurling champions for the fourth time in the county’s history after a truly memorable game.
In the lead up to Saturday’s replay with Cork, analysists everywhere argued that Clare would need at least a goal if they were to win the LiamMcCarthy cup for the first time since 1997.
Another of the big debating points for the past two weeks concerned whether or not Clare would make a change to the starting line up. Two hours before throw in time news emerged that nineteen year old Shane O’Donnell would start ahead of Darach Honan ahead of full forward. to say that he repaid the faith the management showed in him would be an understatement. He delivered a man of the match performance hitting 3-3, the goals coming inside the first twenty minutes
Clare had run up some hugely impressive point tallies in this campaign but goals had been few and far between. To hit five in this replay confirmed the talent that is in this panel and sets the squad out as one of the best ever to represent the county.
At one stage in the first half Clare led by ten points but when the half time whistle sounded the margin was down to four, 3-9 to 1-11. by the mid point of the second half Cork had drawn and concern was growing for Clare’s chances but up stepped O’Donnell again with the lead point.
the new champions went three clear again but a Seamus Harnady goal had Cork level with ten minutes to go. A minute later Conor McGrath struck for the score of the game, a goal worthy of winning any All-Ireland. The Cratloe’s man’s score gave Clare a lead they would hold to the end but credit to Cork who never gave up and struck for their third goal at the end of normal time.
Darach Honan, the player who lost out from the drawn game had been sent into the action with five minutes to go and it was fitting that he struck the final blow with a goal in the second of the scheduled two minutes of added time.
Moments later the celebrations were underway and polans were being made for Sunday evening’s homecoming celebrations for both the senior and under 21 All-Ireland champions
