All-Ireland SFC: Big win for Cork as they edge out Clare in tense encounter 

Clare: 1-11 

Cork: 1-13 

THE Rebels have taken a huge step towards a place in the knock-out phase of the All-Ireland SFC after seeing off Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday evening.

This particular Group 3 Round 1 encounter was a significant one given Ulster giants Donegal and Tyrone are also in this group and it was John Cleary’s charges that picked up the two precious points and they deserved it too. 

With three teams qualifying out of four, this win will set Cork up nicely for the next two difficult assignments.

Clare were looking for a second consecutive championship victory over the Leesiders following on from their one-point win last year in the Munster championship quarter-final, but there would be no shock defeat this time around. It was a mature and measured Rebel display when the game was in the melting pot. 

It was a slow burner with both teams sussing each other out in the early stages. The first score didn’t arrive until the sixth minute when Conor Corbett clipped over a fine point from an acute angle which was followed by Colm O’Callaghan and Brian Hurley efforts. Clare were struggling to make inroads into the Cork defence but did get a point from a free after 11 minutes through a Ciarán Downes placed ball.

It wasn’t a kickstart for the home side as Cork scored a splendid goal after 17 minutes. O’Callaghan set up Seán Powter and the latter nonchalantly palmed the ball into the back of the net. The sides traded white flags with the Leesiders 1-4 to 0-2 ahead after 20 minutes. 

Clare did kick two of the next three points to keep in touch with five minutes to the break. A fisted Chris Óg Jones effort was much needed for Cork on the stroke of the half-time whistle, 1-6 to 0-4 at the break. 

Clare kicked a point 20 seconds into the new half courtesy of Daniel Walsh. The Rebels had a glorious chance of a goal after 38 minutes but Brian O’Driscoll’s palmed effort hit the crossbar when a green flag looked a certainty.

Daniel Walsh landed another point for Clare to leave a goal in it before Paul Walsh pointed after 42 minutes. A minute later it was game on when Aaron Griffin goaled for the Banner, a tidy finish low into the corner of the net, 1-7 to 1-6. The teams exchanged white flags as the game was on a knife edge with 20 minutes remaining.

A Downes 45 levelled up matters after 58 minutes. A fisted Tommy Walsh effort edged the Rebels ahead once again in what was now a tense encounter. Substitute Steven Sherlock landed a mighty long range effort for Cork but it was back down to a one-point game again when Clare substitute Jamie Stack raised a white flag with four minutes left.

Another Rebel sub got on the scoresheet when Mark Cronin converted a free to give them a two-point buffer going into added on time. The teams swapped points before Cronin pointed to push Cork 1-13 to 1-10 ahead.

Dermot Coughlan did reduce the lead down to two points and despite late Clare pressure, Cork survived for a huge win.

Scorers for Clare: E McMahon 0-5 f, C Downes (1 f, 1 45), D Walsh 0-2 each, A Griffin 1-0, J Stack, D Coughlan 0-1 each.

Cork: B Hurley 0-3 (1 f), S Powter 1-0, S Sherlock (1 f), M Cronin (1 f), P Walsh 0-2 each, T Walsh, C O’Callaghan, C Corbett, C Óg Jones 0-1 each.

CLARE: S Ryan; M Doherty, C Brennan, R Lanigan; A Sweeney, C Rouine, I Ugweru; D Bohannon, B McNamara; D Walsh, D Coughlan, G Murray; E McMahon, A Griffin, C Downes.

Subs: M Garry for A Sweeney (33), E O’Connor for G Murray (53), J Stack for C Downes (58), J McGann for A Griffin (67), M McInerney for C Rouine (73).

CORK: C Kelly; K Flahive, D O’Mahony, M Shanley; R Maguire, T Walsh, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, S Powter, B O’Driscoll; C Óg Jones, C Corbett, B Hurley (capt).

Subs: M Cronin for S Powter (57), S Sherlock for C Óg Jones, R Deane for C Corbett (both 59), E McSweeney for B Hurley (67), J O’Rourke for P Walsh (73).

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).