Munster dream blown away

Cork   0-23

Clare   0-15

THE worst fears of Clare hurling followers were realised at Limerick on Sunday when Cork, rated as rank outsiders, scored a comprehensive win over the Banner County who had been installed as the warm favourites for the tie.

Opinions differ as to the main reason for this result, ranging from Clare’s failure to avail of goal chances to a breakdown in Clare’s short passing game but the reality is that Cork out-manoeuvred their opponents, who were seeking a fourth win over the Leesiders in the current season.
Cork won the tactical battle and their decision to put Brian Murphy at centre-back, Seamus Harnedy at wing-forward and Patrick Horgan at full-forward proved key. Murphy, captain on the day in the absence of Pa Cronin, had been named at full-back with Harnedy named as leader of the attack, while Horgan appeared on the programme at corner-forward.
All three played huge roles in the Leesiders’ victory and Clare failed to counteract these moves. Tony Kelly and Colin Ryan, chief scorers for Clare during the league, failed to make an impression on a day when the team’s central defenders, Pat Donnellan and David McInerney, struggled in these key areas.
As predicted last week, Clare showed two changes in personnel from the team that started against Waterford. Nicky O’Connell won a recall and he started at midfield in place of Seadna Morey, while Podge Collins started in attack ahead of Shane O’Donnell.
Having won the toss, Cork elected to play against the very strong wind, a decision thatsurprised many but, ultimately, proved to be a wise move. They opened the scoring in the fourth minute when their top scorer Patrick Horgan pointed from play but, within seconds, Clare were level through Podge Collins, coincidentally, Clare’s top scorer on the day.
The first of a number of major talking points came two minutes later after Podge Collins was upended as he headed for goal, a foul that resulted in a yellow card for Conor O’Sullivan, one of the Cork stars on the day. The debate arose from Tony Kelly’s decision to try for goal from the resultant 20m free, an effort that was saved by Anthony Nash, another star on the day.
A 65’ resulted and Colin Ryan, who missed a couple of frees in the opening half, converted to give Clare a lead they would hold until the 11th minute of the second period. Podge Collins had a goal opportunity in the ninth minute but his effort missed the target before Colm Galvin and Darach Honan pointed to put Clare three clear with just 11 minutes played.
Clonlara clubmates, Galvin and Honan, were on fire at this stage but Clare didn’t capitalise. Honan had a goal chance in the 12th minute but his rasping shot went over the bar. Patrick Kelly saw his puck-out in the 14th minute go wide, an indication of the strength of the wind assisting Clare in the opening half.
Clare hopes were dealt a huge blow in the 20th minute when they lost John Conlon to injury. Aaron Cunningham, back to fitness after suffering a shoulder injury in the opening league game against Waterford, was introduced.
Two Podge Collins efforts and an excellent point from Galvin saw Clare extend their lead to four by the half-hour mark at which stage Cork introduced Jamie Coughlan to their attack and he went on to play a big part in the result.
A three-point lead (0-11 to 0-8) at the break wasn’t enough given the strength of the wind and this quickly became clear. Within five minutes of the restart, the sides were level as Cork hit over three early points. Just before the levelling score from William Egan, Cork goalie Anthony Nash made an excellent save from Darach Honan. Clare had another goal chance two minutes later when Conor McGrath rounded his marker Conor O’Sullivan but his strike hit the side netting.
From here on, Cork grew in confidence and five unanswered points had them 0-16 to 0-11 in front before Clare had their first score of the half, 18 minutes in. Struggling to win possession, Clare’s frustration is reflected in the fact that four players, Pat Donnellan, Fergal Lynch, Domhnaill O’Donovan and Nicky O’Connell were all yellow carded in a seven-minute period before the end of the third quarter.
Cork were seven clear with 13 minutes remaining and Clare were struggling to win possession. When Anthony Nash landed a 110m free with five minutes remaining, it killed off any lingering hopes of a Clare win.
Patrick O’Connor, Cian Dillon and Domhnaill O’Donovan did best in a Clare defence that was under a lot of pressure, even if goalkeeper Patrick Kelly wasn’t called on once to make a save. Colm Galvin did well at midfield, particularly in the opening half, while up front, Podge Collins was Clare’s best performer and Darach Honan also did well.
Conor O’Sullivan, Brian Murphy and William Egan stood out in the Cork defence in front of the outstanding Anthony Nash. Up front, Patrick Horgan and Seamus Harnedy caused a lot of problems for Clare.

Cork: Anthony Nash; Conor O’Sullivan, Stephen McDonnell, Shane O’Neill; Christopher Joyce, Brian Murphy, William Egan; Tom Kenny, Daniel Kearney; Seamus Harnedy, Cian McCarthy, Conor Lehane; Luke O’Farrell, Patrick Horgan, Stephen Moylan.
Subs: Jamie Coughlan for Moylan (31 minutes); Pa Cronin for McCarthy (62 minutes).
Scorers: Patrick Horgan (0-8, 5f), Seamus Harnedy (0-3), Anthony Nash (frees), Luke O’Farrell, Conor Lehane, Jamie Coughlan (0-2 each), William Egan, Daniel Kearney and Pa Cronin and Cian McCarthy (0-1 each).
Frees for: 19; wides: 9.
Bookings: Conor O’Sullivan (5 minutes), William Egan (32 minutes) and Pa Cronin (67 minutes).
Clare: Patrick Kelly; Domnaill O’Donovan, David McInerney, Cian Dillon; Patrick O’Connor, Pat Donnellan, Brendan Bugler; Colm Galvin, Nicky O’Connell; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Colin Ryan; Conor McGrath, Darach Honan, Podge Collins.
Subs: Aaron Cunningham for Conlon (inj, 20 minutes), Fergal Lynch for Ryan (34 minutes), Seadna Morey for O’Connell (53 minutes) and Shane O’Donnell for McGrath (60 minutes).
Scorers: Podge Collins (0-5), Colm Honan, Darach Honan, Colin Ryan (frees), Conor McGrath (0-2 each), Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell (0-1 each).
Frees for: 9;  wides: 10; 65s: 1.
Bookings: Pat Donnellan (46 minutes); Fergal Lynch (48 minutes), Domhnaill O’Donovan (51 minutes) and Nicky O’Connell (54 minutes).
Referee: Barry Kelly, Westmeath.