Knockout second half leaves Rebels reeling

Clare 1-22   Cork 1-16

Trailing by five points at half time and fortunate not to have been further behind, Clare’s chances of overcoming Cork in round three of the National  hurling league at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday night did not look good.
However, a huge improvement in the second half saw the visitors take control and a fully merited six-point win resulted. A last minute Cork goal gave a somewhat flattering look to the scoreboard as Clare’s second half dominance sent Leeside followers home despondent.

On an evening when there were many missed chances by both teams, Cork enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the opening half.

By the mid-way point Clare had shot 10 wides, one more than the home team and some of these came from good positions when players weren’t under pressure.

A save from Clare’s goalkeeper, Patrick Kelly, after Cork’s Stephen Moylan looked to be in for a certain goal before the end of the opening quarter, was a huge boost to the visitors.

Kelly’s performance was key to this victory as not only did he produce some excellent stops but his delivery from puckouts was top class and led to many of his team’s scores.

Dominance in the half-back area often proves key to success. Clare’s half-backs had struggled in the opening half but, after the break, Brendan Bugler, Patrick O’Connor and, in particular, team captain Pat Donnellan were superb.

The dominance of this trio allied to excellent play from Conor Ryan at midfield, John Conlon, now operating in the half-forward line, and the continued brillance of Colin Ryan from placed balls turned the game in Clare’s favour.

It was all so different from the opening half when Clare failed to cope with the swift movement and skillful play of the home side, who had raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes.

It was 0-6 to 0-3 after 12 minutes, all of Clare’s scores coming from placed balls by Colin Ryan. A minute later Kelly advanced sharply from his goal line to deny Moylan who looked set to find the net.

By the 15th minute of the half Clare had hit six wides, Tony Kelly and Nicky O’Connell amongst those who had missed from what appeared easy positions.

It was 0-9 to 0-4 in Cork’s favour at the half hour mark when Clare had their first score from play when Tony Kelly hit the target. The five-point margin was maintained to the break, 0-12 to 0-7, Colin Ryan having hit two excellent points from play just before the short whistle.

Cork’s lead was extended to six by the third minute of the new half after they had added two points to Clare’s one. It was down to four after six minutes following points from John Conlon and Tony Kelly. Pat Horgan then put Diarmuid O’Sullivan through on the Clare goal but his effort was saved at the expense of a 65’ which Horgan converted leaving the score 0-15 to 0-10 by the tenth minute of the second half.

Clare’s play was improving all the time and the half-backs had now taken control. The unrelated Ryans, Colin (from a free) and Conor added points in between which Anthony Nash made a fine stop from John Conlon. Colin Ryan (free), Conlon and Tony Kelly followed with points to tie up the game at 0-15 each at the end of the third quarter.

When Colin Ryan converted a 65’, Clare were in front for the first time since the opening minute and Cork were clearly rattled. Paudie O’Sullivan had another goal chance but the Clare defence held firm. Pat Horgan then missed a chance to level when he failed to find the target from a 50m free before Clare stretched their lead with scores from Nicky O’Connell and another Ryan free.

Cork’s only score in the final 25 minutes followed when Horgan converted a 45m free but Clare responded from the puckout with a John Conlon point. Tony Kelly stretched the winner’s advantage to four before Shane O’Donnell rounded his marker and fired past Nash to put seven points between the teams with eight minutes remaining.

This was the signal for a large number of Cork followers to head for the exit.

Darach Honan signalled his arrival on the field of play with an excellent point before top scorer Colin Ryan had the visitor’s final score with his third from play at the end of normal time. A minute’s injury time was signalled and in that time Cork finally breached the Clare defence. Luke O’Farrell scored their goal which was too late to prevent the visitors from recording their second win of the campaign.

The Clare backs had some anxious moments in the opening half but they improved as the game progressed and none more so than team captain Pat Donnellan, whose second half display was key to him being named man of the match. Few would have complained if goalkeeper Kelly had received the honour either.

The improved play of Conor Ryan, John Conlon and Patrick O’Connor in the second half also played a huge part in the victory.

Cork’s best players were Anthony Nash, Conor O’Sullivan, William Egan, Lorcan McLoughlin and Patrick Horgan but they will be concerned at how they were outplayed in so many areas in the second half.

Clare: Patrick Kelly; Domhnaill O’Donovan, David McInerney, Seadna Morey; Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan (capt), Patrick O’Connor; Nicky O’Connell, Conor Ryan; Colin Ryan, Tony Kelly, Enda Barrett; John Conlon, Shane O’Donnell, Paudge Collins.
Subs: Fergal Lynch for Barrett (40 mins); Colm Galvin for Collins (49 mins); Cathal McInerney for Conor Ryan (60 mins); Darach Honan for O’Donnell (65 mins).
Scorers: Colin Ryan (0-12, 9f); Tony Kelly (0-4); Shane O’Donnell (1-0); Conor Ryan, John Conlon (0-2 each); Nicky O’Connell, Darach Honan (0-1 each).
Frees: 9   wides: 12
Cork: Anthony Nash; Shane O’Neill, Brian Murphy, Conor O’Sullivan; Christopher Joyce, Pat Cronin, William Egan; Daniel Kearney, Lorcan McLoughlin; Cian McCarthy, Paudie O’Sullivan, Seamus Harnady; Stephen Moylan, Peter O’Brien, Patrick Horgan.
Subs: Conor Lehane for Moylan (50 mins); Luke O’Farrell for O’Brien (55 mins); Tom Kenny for Kearney (58 mins); Cathal Naughton for Harnady (60 mins).
Scorers: Patrick Horgan (0-9, 6f, 2 45s); Luke O’Farrell (1-0); Lorcan McLoughlin, Paudie O’Sullivan, Seamus Harnady (0-2 each); Daniel Kearney (0-1).
Frees: 12   wides: 17   65s: 3
Bookings: Paudie O’Sullivan (31 mins).
Referee: Johnnie Ryan, Tipperary.