Rebels hammer shellshocked minors

Cork’s Seán Kiely won the throw-in and popped it off to wing-forward Mark Sugrue, who escaped Jarlath Colleran, cut through the Clare defence and hammered high into the net.
The sizeable Clare crowd were stunned but not half as stunned as the Clare team, who didn’t kick a score of any sort until the 21st minute. By then Cork, who played against a strong wind in the first half, led 1-2 to 0-0.
This Clare team wasn’t the same outfit who played some superb football against Cork in Pairc Uí Rinn on April 13. Despite losing by five points that evening, Clare suggested that with a bit of added confidence, they would be a match for anyone in Munster. Wins over Waterford and Limerick, both away, brought them to Cusack Park and a second tilt at Cork. That hope didn’t manifest itself into a performance of substance though.
Dazed by Cork’s lightening start, the colour went from Clare, as did their self-belief. Their kicking was poor and they spilled possession all through the hour. The team that had played so well just over a month ago didn’t resemble itself.
By the interval, Cork led 1-5 to 0-3. Niall Hickey scored two of Clare’s first-half points from frees, with Eoin Cleary scoring the other. Cleary wrought an excellent save from Cork goalkeeper James McDonnell, who tipped his shot over after Jack Scanlon had laid off to the Miltown wing-forward.
Playing with the wind on the resumption, Cork buried any scant hope Clare had of somehow burrowing their way back into the game. They kicked the opening three points of the second half, with Stephen O’Mahony, Dan McEoin and Cian O’Sullivan on target.
Conor Cleary, Niall Hickey and Jamie Malone scored Clare’s three second-half points as Cork pulled away easily.
Clare tried everything in terms of moving players positionally but Cork were just too good.
Up until Wednesday evening, this Clare team had played good football and suggested they could turnover Cork in Cusack Park. Unfortunately, when Cork stepped it up, having come to Ennis forewarned, Clare froze and couldn’t compete with the Rebel minors in any area of the field.
Cork will play Tipperary in the Munster final.

Clare: Darren Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Oisin Vaughan (Ennistymon), Jamie Malone (Corofin), Conor Gavin (Clondegad, captain); Stan Lineen (Kilmihil), Darragh McDonagh (Miltown, St Joseph’s), Jarlath Colleran (Doora-Barefield); Alan O’Neill (Doora-Barefield), Conor Cleary (Miltown St Joseph’s); Eoin Cleary (Miltown (St Joseph’s), Ciaran Devitt (Ennistymon), Joey Rouine (Ennistyon); Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil), Niall Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Jack Scanlon (O’Curry’s).
Subs: William Flynn (Wolfe Tones) for Joey Rouine (half-time), Liam Corbett (Corofin) for Ciaran Devitt (38), Craig O’Brien (Wolfe Tones) for Stan Lineen (43), Eoghan Donnellan (Clondegad) for Jack Scanlon (53) and Dara Bolton (Kilrush) for Conor Cleary (56).
Scorers: Niall Hickey (0-3f), Conor Cleary (0-2, 1f) and Jamie Malone (0-1).
Wides: 5; frees won: 28; 45s: 0
Yellow cards: Niall Hickey and Darren Sexton.

Cork: James McDonnell; Jamie Davis, Conor Dorman, Kevin Fulignati (captain); Kevin Crowley, Brian O’Driscoll, Tadhg Brosnan; Seán Kiely, Kevin Kavanagh; Mark Sugrue, David Harrington, Cathal Vaughan; Dan McEoin, Stephen O’Mahony, Cian O’Sullivan.
Subs: Alan Cadogan for David Harrington, John Corkery for Stephen O’Mahony, Darragh Murphy for Tadhg Brosnan, Killian McIntrye for Cian O’Sullivan and Andy O’Connell for Kevin Kavanagh.
Scorers: Dan McEoin (0-5), Mark Sugrue (1-2), Cathal Vaughan (0-3, 2f), Cian O’Sullivan (0-2), Brian O’Driscoll (0-2, 1 45’), Stephen O’Mahony and John Corkery (0-1 each).
Wides: 10; frees won: 20; 45s: 2
Yellow cards: Jamie Davis and Conor Dorman.
Referee: Seán Joy (Kerry).