Three-in-a-row dream still alive

Clare 0-18   Cork 1-9

Clare’s dream of a third successive Munster Minor Hurling Championship title is alive and well following a merited win over Cork at Cusack Park, Ennis last Thursday. A strong second-half showing gave the home side the upperhand and ensured a Munster semi-final date with neighbours Limerick on June 29, a game that is also scheduled for Cusack Park.
A little unlucky to lose to Waterford after extra-time in the first round a week earlier, Clare made no mistake when securing the last semi-final spot with this victory over Cork, who had lost their first-round game to Limerick before easily overcoming Kerry in play-off one last Saturday.
The value of Jamie Shanahan to Clare’s bid for a first three in a row of provincial minor titles was highlighted last week. A key member of the title-winning sides of 2010 and 2011, Shanahan returned to action last week following a shoulder injury and his presence for the second half played a big part in Clare’s success.
With the sides level at 0-7 each at half-time, there was nothing to suggest Clare would be so dominant in the second half. They returned with Shanahan in the game at wing-forward and the Sixmilebridge teenager quickly made his presence felt. A foul on Shanahan led to Bobby Duggan giving Clare the lead for the first time and three minutes later Shanahan provided the pass for Duggan to point from play.
Clare hit nine unanswered points in the third quarter, with eight coming from Duggan and a number of these were from frees for fouls on Shanahan.
It didn’t look good for Clare in the opening quarter as Cork raced into a four-point lead after 13 minutes. They looked the sharper side in most departments but despite getting a lot of possession, they were struggling to get past a strong Clare defence.
Clare’s first score came after 14 minutes from Shane Taylor and with 10 minutes remaining in the half, the margin was down to the minimum. The sides were level with six minutes still remaining in the half and they swapped scores twice more before the half-time whistle, when the score stood at 0-7 each.
Shortly before half-time a sideline clash between rival mentors Leo Doyle (Clare) and Pat Kenneally (Cork) appeared to spur on the home side and they certainly upped their game when the second half got underway.
Clarecastle’s Bobby Duggan was unerring from all angles and distances, hitting eight points in a row, two from play, five frees and a 65’ as Clare went 0-15 to 0-7 ahead. A Shane Taylor effort made the margin nine and clearly Cork had a huge task on their hands if they were to get back into contention.
The visitors made a number of chances and scored the next two points, both frees from Pa O’Callaghan but another Taylor effort for Clare left eight between the teams with just seven minutes remaining. Cork needed a goal and while they eventually got through, there were just three minutes remaining. Clare held firm and sealed victory when Niall Deasy had the final score of the game in injury time.
The Clare defence did very well in this tie when the conceded just three scores from play.
The full-back trio of Shane O’Brien, the team captain, Brian Carey and Gearóid Ryan excelled while the half-back trio of Aidan McGuane, Conor Cleary and Eoin Quirke got through a lot of work.
Alex Morey stood out at midfield while up front Shane Taylor and Bobby Duggan, who contributed 0-10, were always prominent while Jamie Shanahan strengthened the side considerably when introduced.

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Shane O’Brien (Clonlara, capt), Brian Carey (Sixmilebridge), Gearóid Ryan (Clarecastle); Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley), Conor Cleary (Miltown), Eoin Quirke (Whitegate); David Conroy (Doora-Barefield), Alex Morey (Sixmilebridge) (0-2); Shane Taylor (Broadford) (0-3), Niall Deasy (Ballyea), (0-2) Stephen Ward (Clarecastle); Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle) (0-10), Conor Deasy (Sixmilebridge) (0-1), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg);
Subs: Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge) for Ward; Shane Gleeson (Cratloe) for Conroy and Brian Corry (Sixmilebridge) for O’Donnell.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Stephen Murphy, Killian O’Connor, Alan Dennehy; Killian McIntyre, Paul Fitzgerald, Daniel Mangan; Barry O’Connell, Kevin O’Neill; John Cashman, Dylan Cahill, Michael Cahalane (0-2); Anthony Spillane, Pa O’Callaghan (1-6), James O’Brien (0-1).
Subs: Rickard Cahalane for Cashman; Trevor Horgan for O’Brien and Aaron Sheehan for O’Connell.
Referee: Paul Foley, Waterford.