By Denis Hurley, Cooraclare
Cork 0-23 Clare 0-8
Cork impressed in the second half to pull clear of Clare in their Eirgrid Munster U21FC quarter-final at Cooraclare.
Having been tested by the home side, the Rebels led by 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time and Cian O’Dea’s point for Clare on the resumption suggested that the visitors might be in for a gut-check.
However, Cork responded with three points on the trot, one by Seán O’Donoghue and two from Brian Coakley, and though Keelan Sexton had another for Clare, they wouldn’t score again until injury time, by which stage the outcome was long decided.
In between, Cork scored nine unanswered points as they played with a calmness and maturity. Peter Kelleher, who has performed well for the seniors in the league, was a focal point at full-forward while O’Donoghue at number 11 was excellent in his 44 minutes on the field and Ronan O’Toole was tireless at midfield.
While Cork didn’t get a goal, they were unlucky with the final pass more than once and at the other end the concentration was never allowed to waver as John Mullins and Kevin Flahive made good blocks and goalkeeper Anthony Casey was an assured presence.
In the first half, the netminder was twice called upon to make good saves, from Clare’s Sexton and Seán O’Donoghue, before six consecutive points put them 0-8 to 0-2 to the good, O’Donoghue on form and Ryan Harkin sending over a beauty from the left.
As the break neared, Michael Hurley put them 0-10 to 0-3 ahead but O’Dea and Sexton gave Clare hope with scores before the whistle. O’Dea’s second brought it to four points early in the second half, but that was as close as Clare came.
Scorers for Cork: S O’Donoghue 0-6 (three frees), B Coakley 0-5 (four frees), S Sherlock 0-3 (one free), P Kelleher, M Hurley 0-2 each, R Harkin, M McSweeney, R O’Toole, D O’Driscoll, M Ó Duinnín 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: K Sexton 0-4 (three frees), C Brennan (one free), C O’Dea 0-2 each.
CORK: A Casey (Kiskeam); D Quinn (St Finbarr’s), M McSweeney (Newcestown), J Mullins (Éire Óg); K Flahive (Douglas), S Cronin (Nemo Rangers), K Histon (Cobh); S White (Clonakilty), R O’Toole (Éire Óg); D O’Driscoll (Clann nan Gael), S O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), R Harkin (Mallow); B Coakley (Carrigaline), P Kelleher (Kilmichael), M Hurley (Castlehaven).
Subs: E Lavers (Dohenys) for Histon (40), M Ó Duinnín (Naomh Abán) for O’Donoghue (44), S O’Leary (Bantry Blues) for O’Driscoll (45), S Sherlock (St Finbarr’s) for Hurley (49), C Kiely (Ballincollig) for McSweeney, K Cremin (Boherbue) for Harkin (both 53).
CLARE: K Roche (Cooraclare); C O’Halloran (Éire Óg Ennis), D Nagle (Liscannor), N Lynch (Clondegad); P Lillis (Cooraclare), J O’Dea (Kilfenora), C O’Dea (Kilfenora); D Walsh (Éire Óg Ennis), L Tierney (St Breckan’s); K Malone (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), C Brennan (Clondegad), C Ó hAiniféin (Éire Óg Ennis); K Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), S O’Donoghue (Cooraclare), D Egan (Kilmihil).
Subs: T Lynch (Clondegad) for Egan, M Duffy (Kilfenora) for Walsh (both half-time), E O’Connor (Éire Óg Ennis) for O’Donoghue (47), E Tubridy (Doonbeg) for Malone (54).
Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary).
