Munster U20FC: Seán O'Leary's point rescues a draw for Cork away to Clare

Cork: 1-10 (1-0-10) 

Clare: 1-10 (1-2-6) 

There was nothing to separate Cork and Clare as the sides shared the spoils in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 1 clash at Quilty on Thursday evening.

The Rebels, under new manager Ray Keane, will probably take the point from a game in which they never fully hit their stride. Given the tricky weather conditions, Cork will still take plenty of positives, and it could prove a valuable point when the group stage concludes.

Cork were unable to take the bull by the horns on the West Clare coast as they did 12 months ago. The sides were level at the break, though the Leesiders had trailed by two at one stage after conceding a goal against the run of play. They looked in trouble again late on until impressive wing-back Seán O’Leary levelled matters.

Senior star Dara Sheedy and Danny Miskella were Cork’s main scoring threats, but the management team will want greater contributions from the rest of the forward line in the coming weeks.

Kerry visit SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Thursday, and Cork will need to improve for that test. For now, they will be glad of the draw coming down the road from Clare.

The crossfield wind caused problems for both teams early on. Clare opened the scoring through a Seán Fennell free. A moment of magic from Sheedy saw him fist over after a strong run, as turnovers and wides dominated the early exchanges.

Sheedy added another point — a chance that could easily have been a goal had he kept his shot down — after a neat pass from Rickey Barrett, making it 0-2 to 0-1 after 11 minutes.

Scores were scarce in the first half. The sides traded points before Evan Cahill found the net for Clare, allowed to run through unchallenged before finishing confidently with 10 minutes left in the half.

Cork struggled to break down a teak-tough Clare defence, though Miskella converted a free and Sheedy levelled approaching the short whistle. Miskella nudged Cork ahead briefly, but Daire Culligan replied with an excellent effort to leave the teams tied at 0-6 to 1-3 at half-time.

Cork started the second half positively despite the awkward wind. O’Leary split the posts, and the Rebels enjoyed most of the possession without inflicting major damage. Diarmuid McMahon levelled for Clare before Miskella struck for Cork, finishing superbly into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-7 to 1-4 after 37 minutes.

Captain Darragh Clifford pushed Keane’s side four clear, but a two-point Fennell free kept Clare firmly in touch, backed by a small but vocal home crowd.

The teams exchanged points as Cork led 1-9 to 1-7 with 18 minutes remaining. A brilliant two-pointer from Fennell brought Clare level — a reward for their persistence. Cork needed leaders as their spark faded, but Clare had the momentum, and Ruben Fallon nudged them ahead with four minutes left.

O’Leary responded for Cork as the game ticked into added time, with both sides searching for a winner. Clare looked the more likely, but no hero emerged.

Honours even.

Scorers for Cork: D Miskella 1-3 (0-2 f), D Sheedy 0-4, S O’Leary 0-2, D Clifford 0-1.

Clare: S Fennell 0-6 (1 2pt f, 1 2pt, 0-2 f), E Cahill 1-0, D Culligan 0-2 (0-1 f), R Fallon, D McMahon 0-1 each.

CORK: B Curtin (Valley Rovers); F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa), P Rose (Ballincollig), M Ahern (St Finbarr’s); S O’Leary (Kilmurry), C McCarthy (St Colum’s), O Foley (Bishopstown); D Clifford (Éire Óg, capt), S Connolly (Ilen Rovers); M O’Brien (Ballinora), D Sheedy (Bantry Blues), G Holland (Bishopstown); S Coakley (Douglas), R Barrett (St Finbarr’s), D Miskella (Ballincollig).

Subs: L Shorten (Tadhg MacCarthaigh) for S Coakley (48), T Kiely (Mallow) for S Connolly (51).

CLARE: H O’Gorman; A Weaver, S Murphy, A Killeen; D Brody, D Boyle, M Kelly; E Cahill, S Fennell; D Townsend, C Breen, D O’Dwyer; D McMahon, D Culligan (capt), R Fallon.

Subs: C Hill for C Breen (56).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).