Cork minor footballers run riot as Rebels crush Clare 

Cork: 4-25 (4-1-23) 

Clare: 0-12 (0-1-10) 

Cork made a superb start to their Electric Ireland Munster MFC campaign with an emphatic 25-point victory over Clare in their Phase 2 Round 1 clash at Clarecastle on Monday evening.

The Rebels settled quickly and took control of proceedings, which was notable given it was their first championship outing while Clare had already played three games in coming through Phase 1. 

Keith Ricken’s side produced a dominant first half, establishing a 17-point lead at the interval in what was an excellent display.

Ben Hegarty and Tom Whooley were outstanding up front, while Conor Downing anchored things impressively at the back. Hegarty was withdrawn at half-time as a precaution, but Cork continued to pull away, finishing with 4-23 from play in a commanding performance.

The result sets them up nicely for their next group game away to Kerry in Tralee next Monday.

It was an even opening, the sides sharing the first four points inside five minutes, Hegarty supplying Cork’s scores, one from a free. The Rebels soon began to turn the screw, with Kieran O’Shea and Conrad Murphy gaining the upper hand at midfield. Dónal Herlihy pointed before Whooley and Eoghan Ahern were both unlucky not to raise green flags.

The teams traded points as Cork led 0-4 to 0-3 after 13 minutes. The Leesiders still held a narrow advantage as the half progressed before a sweeping move ended with Jacob Barry finishing to the net, pushing Cork 1-5 to 0-4 ahead with 12 minutes to the break.

Cork kicked two of the next three points, Liam Keane with Clare's score, before Ricken’s charges embarked on a decisive scoring burst. Seven scores in succession effectively ended the contest, including goals from Herlihy and Whooley and a two-pointer from Murphy, sending Cork in 3-13 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.

The Rebels resumed where they left off, taking two of the first three white flags of the second half. Keane tapped over a straightforward free for Clare, but even at this juncture, it felt too steep of a climb for the hosts.

Cork remained in complete control, hitting 1-4 without reply, with captain Joe Miskella finishing a tidy goal to make it 4-19 to 0-7 after 47 minutes. The sides exchanged points before the excellent Ahern clipped over his third.

The game petered out in the closing stages, Cork adding two of the next three scores, with substitute Riain Coakley’s effort the standout. 

Clare did register back-to-back scores, including a Seán O’Callaghan orange flag, as they trailed 4-23 to 0-12 entering the final stages.

Impressive sub Alex O’Herlihy rounded off the evening with a pair of points — three in total for him — as Cork cruised to a comprehensive win.

Scorers for Cork: T Whooley 1-5, J Miskella, D Herlihy 1-2 each, B Hegarty 0-4 (0-2 f), C Murphy (1 2pt), E Ahern, A O’Herlihy 0-3 each, J Barry 1-0, C Garvey, C Downing, R Coakley 0-1 each.

Clare: L Keane 0-5 (0-4 f), S O’Callaghan 0-2 (1 2pt), C Killeen, R Cotter, T Dillon, R Kelly, R Brady 0-1 each.

CORK: R Twohig (Kilmeen); C O’Riordan (Blarney), G Oronsaye (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels), C Garvey (St Finbarr’s); D O’Sullivan (Erin’s Own), C Downing (Adrigole), E Lynch (Ballincollig); K O’Shea (Urhan), C Murphy (Ibane Gaels); E Ahern (Carrigaline), B Hegarty (Ballinora), J Miskella (Ballincollig, capt); T Whooley (Clonakilty), J Barry (Aghinagh), D Herlihy (Shamrocks).

Subs: D O’Mahony (Newcestown) for B Hegarty (h-t), A O’Herlihy (St Finbarr’s) for J Barry (42), R Coakley (Éire Óg) for D Herlihy, P Kelly (Naomh Abán) for C Murphy (both 46), M Corkery (Nemo Rangers) for T Whooley (50).

CLARE: C Griffin; G Browne, S Neenan, T O’Loughlin; E Soffe, C Killeen, S O’Neill; S Cahill, J Lavin; R Cotter, Z O’Shea, T Dillon; R Kelly, L Keane, S O’Callaghan.

Subs: P Neylon for E Cahill (10-12, blood), P Neylon for C Killeen (28), J Greene for J Lavin, T Bane for Z O’Shea (both h-t), D Healy for E Soffe (42), R Brady for T Dillon (49).

Referee: Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh (Kerry).