All-Ireland final: Clare edge Cork by a single point after extra time

Clare 3-29 Cork 1-34 (aet)

The wait goes on - Cork's bid for a 31st All-Ireland hurling title fell at the very last hurdle as Clare took victory after extra time at Croke Park on Sunday.

After 35, 70 and 80 minutes, the sides were level but in the second period the Banner forged three ahead but, as they had throughout, Cork came back. Two Patrick Horgan frees brought them within one with time almost up and they won a free deep in their own half. Patrick Collins' delivery was claimed by Robbie O'Flynn but, under pressure, he shot wide and Clare celebrated.

In one sense, nothing much has changed. Since September 4, 2006, Cork have not been All-Ireland champions and 6,531 days has become 6,532. It’s just one more day.

But of course one more day really means one more year and, next year, the county will be looking to end what has become a 20-year gap.

Sport is a binary operation; there’s the winner and everybody else. But Cork weren’t just one of the also-rans this year. They came with a surge and almost achieved ultimate glory. That that didn’t happen is disappointing and upsetting but it doesn’t undo all the great memories. At the same time, there will be many regrets.

With Patrick Horgan's tenth point of the game having forced extra time, a fragmented opening period saw six points shared evenly - the biggest moment was a score that wasn't as Tony Kelly linked with Aidan McCarthy before Patrick Collins saved from him. Kelly got the loose ball and passed to David Fitzgerald but Ciarán Joyce produced a heroic block.

It was Joyce who then put Cork 1-31 to 3-24 ahead but another wonderful Kelly point tied matters after 80 minutes. In the second period, Robbie O'Flynn's point was levelled by a McCarthy free before the Cork man had a goal chance, created by Tommy O'Connor and Brian Hayes, but Eibhear Quilligan saved. From there, Clare pushed on.

In normal time, Cork could scarcely have wished for a better start, with their first nine shots yielding 1-8. While an early three-point advantage was wiped out, they came again, only stronger. Points from Horgan (free), Harnedy and Shane Barrett in quick succession had them 0-7 to 0-3 in front and then, when Robert Downey won a Clare puckout, he was able to run. There have been many great goals scored by Glen Rovers men in Croke Park but few if any could be said to be better than the finish he produced.

Aidan McCarthy posted a response for Clare but by that stage, their four points were matched by as many wides. When Declan Dalton spotted Mark Coleman’s run from a sideline cut and the wing-back pointed, it was 1-8 to 0-4, 14 minutes gone.

Clare needed something big and they found it - Shane O’Donnell linked well with Peter Duggan and, when Aidan McCarthy was found in space, he fired to the net. Three more points followed, with Clare's half-back line, led by John Conlon, coping hugely well on the Cork puckout

Patrick Horgan did end eight scoreless minutes with a free and followed it up with a record-breaking effort – prior to the latter, he was unlucky to put a goal attempt into the side-netting. Despite being behind again, Clare were having the better of the play; points from Rodgers, McCarthy and then David Reidy had them in front for the first time but Darragh Fitzgibbon’s first point ensured that Cork went in level at 1-12 each.

Brian Hayes had Cork back in front after the restart and Harnedy and O’Mahony did so twice more after Clare equalisers before Rodgers created a goal out of nothing. Picking up a loose ball, his mazy run could not be dealt with and he whizzed a shot beyond Patrick Collins for a 2-14 to 1-15 advantage. Alan Connolly replied immediately and a leveller eventually arrived on 47, Seán O’Donoghue and Harnedy linking to set up O’Mahony for his third.

Moments later, they might have had a goal – Ciarán Joyce produced a lovely steal in midfield and found Dalton, who drove goalwards before feeding Harnedy. Conor Cleary, coming across to close down, looked to have deflected the ball out for a 65 but instead a wide was the decision.

After David Reidy and Horgan exchanged points, one of the best goals witnessed in Croke Park or any other field where Gaelic games are played. When Fitzgerald passed to Kelly, it looked like a point opportunity but he has made a career out of creating something from nothing. His slalom through the defence before a cushioned finish home is something that will be shown for years.

Again, Cork came back and Eoin Downey had them within a point, 3-16 to 1-21, on 57. After an uncharacteristic David Fitzgerald wide, sub Ethan Twomey claimed a puckout and fed Harnedy for his fourth.

But Clare were keyed in. Conor Leen set up Fitzgerald for the lead score - albeit with more than a hint of a foul on Patrick Horgan - before Rodgers and sub Ryan Taylor had them three in front again. 

That was still the gap when sub Robbie O'Flynn was fouled - a penalty might have been justified but Horgan stuck over the free and then Coleman left one one in it. When Robert Downey was fouled at midfield, Horgan levelled but then Kelly produced his second bit of magic and Clare were in the box seat again. They might have been secure but sub Aron Shanagher put a shot wide.

Taking that break, Cork refused to relent and when sub Tommy O'Connell, just on, was fouled, Horgan again did the needful, forcing extra time. However, it was to be Clare's day.

When Seán Óg Ó hAilpín lifted the MacCarthy Cup, the number 1 song in the Irish singles chart was Bad Day by Daniel Powter. September 11, 2005 was not a bad day but there have been more than a few since and this was another one. That’s sport – Clare came to Croke Park with fairly serious aims, too.

The task for Cork is to bounce back and learn and improve. It’s something that they have done this year and something they will do again.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter.

Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

Scorers for Clare: A McCarthy 1-7 (0-3 f, 0-1 65), T Kelly 1-4, M Rodgers 1-3, D Ryan, D Fitzgerald 0-3 each, P Duggan (0-1 sideline), D Reidy, S O'Donnell 0-2 each, R Taylor, I Galvin, S Meehan 0-1 each.

Cork: P Horgan 0-12 (0-10 f), S Harnedy 0-4, T O'Mahony, M Coleman 0-3 each, R Downey 1-0, B Hayes, S Barrett, D Fitzgibbon, S Kingston 0-2 each, E Downey, A Connolly, C Joyce, R O'Flynn 0-1 each.

CLARE: E Quilligan; C Cleary, A Hogan, C Leen; D Ryan, J Conlon, D McInerney; C Malone, T Kelly; P Duggan, M Rodgers, D Fitzgerald; S O’Donnell, A McCarthy, D Reidy.

Subs: R Taylor for McCarthy (55), I Galvin for Reidy (59), A Shanagher for Duggan (66), D Lohan for Cleary (70, injured), R Mounsey for Rodgers (70+3), McCarthy for Mounsey (extra time), C Galvin for Ryan, S Meehan for O'Donnell (both 80), S Morey for Malone (87).

CORK: P Collins; N O’Leary, E Downey, S O’Donoghue; M Coleman, C Joyce, R Downey; T O’Mahony, D Fitzgibbon; D Dalton, S Barrett, S Harnedy; P Horgan, A Connolly, B Hayes.

Subs: T O’Connell for Joyce (15-17, blood), S Kingston for Hayes (43-48, blood), E Twomey for Dalton (48), J O'Connor for Connolly (64), Kingston for Barrett (66), R O'Flynn for Harnedy (68), O'Connell for R Downey (70+4, injured), G Millerick for O'Donoghue (79), D Cahalane for O'Leary (half-time in extra time), L Meade for O'Mahony (85).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).