McGrath Cup: Cork footballers open their account with a big 12-point win over Clare

Cork: 2-14 

Clare: 0-8 

CORK made a winning start to 2024 following victory over Clare in the McGrath Cup at Clarecastle on Wednesday evening.

John Cleary’s side won this pre-season competition last year. Cork will be keen to go into the first league contest away to Donegal in three and a half weeks’ time with some degree of momentum and as first competitive games go, Cork will be happy enough and ticked a lot of boxes in the second-half after a slow start.

Before the game, there was a moment's silence for the late Fr Michael (Paddy) Murphy who passed away last week. He was a member of the Cork senior football team that won the National League and Munster titles in 1956, before losing out to Galway in the All-Ireland final.

Both sides tried to set out their stall early in this opening Group B encounter in the Banner county, but the dreadful weather conditions impacted proceedings with driving rain and wind making it difficult.

Clare, aided by the wind, hit the front after two minutes through a Daniel Walsh point before Colm O’Callaghan levelled the game through a fine point after six minutes. The teams traded white flags before Darragh Cashman, on his competitive debut, sent over a beauty of a point from long-range after 27 minutes, 0-3 to 0-2.

A Blake Murphy free opened up a two-point lead, but Clare quickly cut the gap to the bare minimum when Diarmuid O’Donnell converted an easy free, 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time.

On the resumption, despite the Rebels now being aided by the wind, it was Clare who made the better start when Ciarán Downes pointed from a free two minutes in. And the home side nudged ahead when Downes landed another placed ball, 0-5 to 0-4 after 40 minutes.

Cork were slow out of the blocks and another Downes free gave his side a two-point lead. Cork got their first point of the half eight minutes in when Cashman kicked his second point of the evening, 0-6 to 0-5.

A crucial score arrived after 48 minutes when Conor Corbett finished off a neat team move to raise a green flag for the Rebels.

Cork kicked two consecutive points to lead 1-7 to 0-6 after 53 minutes.

The Leesiders then scored 1-4 without reply, Mark Cronin, who made an impression when he was introduced, with the green flag with ten minutes remaining, 2-11 to 0-6. Clare sub Kieran Malone kicked a lovely point for the Banner, but Cork landed three of the last four points as Cleary’s charges headed back down the road with a comfortable win and two points on the board.

Cork will face Waterford Sunday week in Mallow at 2pm in the next game of the McGrath Cup where a win will send them into the decider.

Scorers for Cork: M Cronin 1-3 (0-2 f), C Corbett 1-2, D Cashman, C O’Callaghan C Óg Jones 0-2 each, M Taylor, B Murphy (f), P Walsh 0-1 each.

Clare: C Downes 0-5 (0-4 f), D Walsh, D O’Donnell (f), K Malone 0-1 each.

CORK: P Doyle (Knocknagree); K Flahive (Douglas), M Shanley (Clonakilty), M Taylor (Mallow, capt); D Cashman (Millstreet), T Walsh (Kanturk), B O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh); C O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), P Walsh (Kanturk); E McSweeney (Knocknagree), F Herlihy (Dohenys), J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); D Buckley (Newcestown), C Corbett (Clyda Rovers), B Murphy (St Vincent’s).

Subs: R Deane (Bantry Blues) for J O’Rourke, C Óg Jones (Iveleary) for F Herlihy (both h-t), I Maguire (St Finbarr’s) for E McSweeney (43), M Cronin (Nemo Rangers) for B Murphy (48), L Fahy (Ballincollig) for D Cashman (51), S Meehan (Kiskeam) for K Flahive (58), D Gore (Kilmacabea) for D Buckley (66), J McCarthy (Carrigaline) for T Walsh, N Lordan (Ballinora) for P Walsh (both 68).

CLARE: S Ryan; M Doherty, J Guyler, R Lanigan; M Garry, A Sweeney, G Murray; D Walsh, B McNamara; C Downes, D O’Brien, D Coughlan; S Griffin, A Griffin, D O’Donnell.

Subs: K Malone for D O'Donnell (50), T McDonald for D O'Brien (55), C McMahon for D Coughlan (60).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick).