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Angry scenes on the sideline with Cork coach David Fitzgerald going at it with Clare manager Conor Dolan while David’s son Colm, a Clare selector, and Cork coach James Hickey, from Cratloe, try to mediate. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Late goals burnish Cork victory over Clare in Ennis


Cork 2-6
Clare 0-4

Report by Eoin Brennan

Two late goals flatteringly bolstered Cork’s opening victory of the new season after holding off hosts Clare in unflattering weather conditions in Cusack Park this afternoon.

One would have to go back to the 2014 National League Semi-Final to find Clare’s last triumph over the Rebels and consequently another victory for the visitors was both expected and delivered.

However, while 16 points separated the sides in their previous clash in the 2020 All-Ireland Quarter-Final, Clare halved the margin this time around and in truth could have been much closer, only to concede a brace of majors coming down the final straight.

That said, the Rebels never looked in danger of letting all the points slip, having hit the front for the first time in the 33rd minute through Down native Sorcha McCartan. With the aid of a gale, Cork kept Clare scoreless for the second period while tacking on 2-3 themselves to run out deserving winners.

All that after a dogged first half that saw the Banner take the wind and therefore the advantage. But while they were the ones setting the pace on the scoreboard, the hosts didn’t threaten enough to warrant such a storm.

Chloe Morey opened the scoring with a monster third minute free, only for Izzy O’Regan to cancel it out in the next passage of play, a pattern that would be replicated when an Eimear Kelly single was matched by the hard-working Laura Hayes midway through the half at 0-2 to 0-2.

Kelly was also instrumental in reclaiming the lead as she offloaded to club-mate Aine O’Loughlin to nudge the home side back in front before the towering O’Loughlin doubled her tally in the 27th minute at 0-4 to 0-2.

Clare’s scores were matched by some superb defending at the other end as first Aoife Keane blocked McCartan who had cut in menacingly from the left corner before goalkeeper Doireann Murphy pulled off a brilliant save to deny Amy O’Connor from the other side.

O’Connor did have better luck over Murphy’s crossbar to lessen the damage to the minimum by the break at 0-4 to 0-3, leaving the home side to rue seven first half wides.

Clare wouldn’t have that luxury on the turnover as now backed by the elements, Cork quickly snatched the whip hand to power clear for the first time. Trailing by 0-6 to 0-4 by the 40th minute,

Clare’s defence, led particularly by captain Clare Hehir and Alannah Ryan, performed admirably to stem the Cork tide including the latter’s superbly timed block to stop Amy O’Connor from rattling the net at the turn of the final quarter.

When the breakthrough finally came, it was a little underwhelming as goalkeeper Murphy again excelled to smother a Katrina Mackey flick, only to concede a penalty after being adjudged to have lied down on the ball in the square.

Up stepped the impressive Sorcha McCann to just about beat Murphy at 1-6 to 0-4 in the 50th minute, a score that proved much more contentious on the line as following a heated exchange, Clare natives Davy Fitzgerald (Cork) and Conor Dolan (Clare) were both sent to the stand by the Westmeath official.

On the field, Clare never looked like upsetting the odds but equally, their miserly defence didn’t deserve to leak an injury-time goal as the ever-threatening O’Connor crept in behind their last line to collect an Aoife Hurley pass and give Murphy no chance this time around.

With six debutants on their side, Clare will take a lot of positives out of this performance but the tests won’t get any easier as they are set to host defending champions Kilkenny next Saturday on home soil.

Cork: Amy Lee (Na Piarsaigh) (Captain); Meabh Murphy (Ballinora), Libby Coppinger (St Colum’s), Meabh Cahalane (St Finbarr’s); Saoirse McCarthy (Courcey Rovers), Laura Treacy (Killeagh), Laura Hayes (St Catherine’s); Katie O’Mahoney (Newcastle West), Aishling Thompson (Milford); Cliona Healy (Aghabullogue), Izzy O’Regan (Ballygarvan), Ciara O’Sullivan (Newcestown); Amy O’Connor (St Vincent’s), Sorcha McCartan (St Finbarr’s), Katrina Mackey (Douglas). Subs: Chloe Sigerson (Killeagh) for O’Sullivan (48), Aoife Hurley (St Catherine’s) for Mackey (60)
Scorers: Amy O’Connor (1-2); Sorcha McCartan (1-1, 1-0 Pen), Izzy O’Regan, Laura Hayes, Katie O’Mahoney (0-1 each)

Clare: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle); Ciara Grogan (Clooney-Quin), Clare Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona) (Captain), Caoimhe Kelly (Kilkishen); Aoife Keane (Inagh-Kilnamona), Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge), Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen); Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley), Muireann Scanlon (Sixmilebridge); Shauna Canny (Feakle-Killanena), Eimear Kelly (Truagh-Clonlara), Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena); Robyn Conway (Feakle-Killanena), Áine O’Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara), Lorna McNamara (Feakle-Killenana). Subs: Regan Conway (Feakle-Killanena) for Canny (43)
Scorers: Aine O’Loughlin 0-2; Chloe Morey (f), Eimear Kelly (0-1 each)

Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath)

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