Munster U20FC: Impressive Cork too strong for Clare in opener 

Cork: 3-16 (3-1-14) 

Clare: 1-13 (1-1-11) 

Cork are up and running in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship after overcoming Clare at Quilty on Tuesday evening.

In this opening game of the Phase 2 Round-Robin competition, Ray O’Mahony’s side were very professional with the way they went about it and will be delighted that they came through a potential banana skin of a game.

The Rebels were on point from the off despite it being their first championship outing while it was Clare’s fourth having come through Phase 1. 

Two goals inside the first 13 minutes set Cork on their way. It was a workmanlike performance from O’Mahony’s charges. As first games go, they will be happy.

Cork were aided by a gale of a wind in the opening 30 minutes, but it took them a while to adapt to the conditions, which was understandable. Alan O’Connell fisted over a point after seven minutes, but a goal could have also been on for the Leesiders before Colin Riordan drew parity.

Dylan O’Neill, impressive for the Cork minors last year, goaled after eleven minutes as he finished brilliantly into the bottom corner of the net after turning his marker with aplomb.

That was followed by O’Connell’s second point until the Rebels raised a second green flag after 13 minutes when the industrious wing-back Seán O’Leary darted up the pitch and planted the ball into the net.

Clare did sneak a goal against the run of play when Odhrán O’Connell easily passed the Cork defence to slot the ball past Billy Curtin, 2-2 to 1-1 after 14 minutes.

Cork then put together three unanswered points with Danny Miskella, Dara Sheedy and O’Neill pointing. Clare did land two white flags on the trot before Miskella kicked a two-pointer to extend his side’s advantage with eight minutes to the break, 2-7 to 1-3.

The home outfit did finish the half well, landing three of the last four points. Cork’s point coming from Sheedy, which was the Rebels first score from a free. 

Cork goalkeeper Curtin also stopped the opposition from netting a goal late in the first half with a great save to deny Daire Culligan, 2-8 to 1-6 at the break.

Clare had a strong wind advantage for the new half, but the Rebels started superbly as they dominated in midfield with Matthew Woods and Colm Gillespie dominating. 

Cork slotted over four points on the trot inside the first five minutes of the second 30 minutes with O’Neill’s effort the pick of the bunch, outside of the boot, a beauty, 2-12 to 1-6.

Seán Fennell did point for Clare, but the Leesiders were managing the game effectively at this stage in the half against the wind. The scores did dry up for a short while. Clare did have a chance of a second goal after 48 minutes but Curtin saved from Seán Fennell.

It didn’t take much for the Rebels to push on again with quick-fire points from Bryan Hayes (twice, one from a free) and an O’Leary effort, 2-15 to 1-7 after 52 minutes. 

Clare did rally with five points on the bounce including a two-pointer from a free through sub Conor Fennell.

Cork had done enough though as the game went into six minutes of added time. A third goal from the winners through Miskella put the icing on the cake.

The sides traded points as Cork march on. Kerry are next up next Monday in Austin Stack Park.

Scorers for Cork: D Miskella 1-4 (1 2pt), D O’Neill 1-3 (0-1 f), S O’Leary 1-1, B Hayes 0-3 (0-1 f), D Sheedy (0-1 f), A O’Connell 0-2 each, D Harrington 0-1.

Clare: S Fennell 0-5 (0-4 f), O O’Connell 1-0, C Fennell (1 2pt f), D Killeen 0-2 each, D Culligan (f), C Riordan, D Townsend, L Pyne 0-1 each.

CORK: B Curtin (Valley Rovers); N O’Shea (Urhan), C Molloy (Nemo Rangers, capt), F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa); C Clifford (Éire Óg), G Daly (Mallow), S O’Leary (Kilmurry); M Woods (Valley Rovers), C Gillespie (Aghabullogue); A O’Connell (Kilshannig), D Sheedy (Bantry Blues), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue); D Miskella (Ballincollig), B Hayes (Nemo Rangers), D O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).

Subs: D Harrington (Clonakilty) for F Hurley, D Clifford (Éire Óg) for G Daly (both h-t), D Gough (Clonakilty) for D Sheedy (51, inj), T Cullinane (Carbery Rangers) for B Hayes (52), K McCarthy (Carrigaline) for A O’Connell (58).

CLARE: C Howard; C Hill, D Hill, M Kelly; S Conneally, C O’Donovan, L Pyne; E Cahill, S McAllister; O O’Connell, S Fennell, D Killeen; D Culligan, C Riordan, S McMahon (capt).

Subs: R Fitzpatrick for C Hill (38), E Wragg for M Kelly (40), C Fennell for S McMahon (41), D Townsend for O O’Connell (47), C Hannon for C Fennell (57, inj).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).