Munster U20HC:  Barry Walsh scores 1-5 as Cork edge out Clare but will meet Banner again

Cork 4-19

Clare 2-21

A four-goal haul helped Cork to beat Clare in Wednesday’s Fulfil Munster U20HC game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh – setting up a semi-final against the same opposition at the same venue a week later.

With Cork, Clare and Tipperary having all guaranteed qualification for the knockout stage, the unknowable beforehand was the order of progression. While Cork’s win, with Barry Walsh to the fore in the closing stages, put them in the frame to finish top and take the direct route to the decider, Tipperary’s big win over an already-eliminated Limerick forced a three-way tie, giving them the golden ticket on scoring difference.

Nevertheless, Cork will take much satisfaction from the way they put themselves into the lead and then held it in the face of Clare pressure.

Trailing by a point, 1-11 to 1-10, at half-time, Noel Furlong’s enjoyed a dream start to the second half.

Centre-back Colm Garde levelled with a boomer and then, following a Clare wind, wing-back made a dart to the opposing 65 – goalkeeper Oisín Walsh found him with a wind-assisted puckout and he worked the ball to captain Barry O’Flynn, who in turn fed Johnny Murphy for a goal.

James O’Brien – still on free-taking duties despite the return of Barry Walsh – scored his fifth point to leave it 2-13 to 1-11 and it seemed like the major question for the remainder of the half would be if Cork could finish ahead of Tipp on scoring difference.

However, a Clare side that had won their previous three games had other ideas. While Michael Collins’ third point was answered by Barry Walsh’s first of the evening, Clare closed to within two thanks to Fred Hegarty and half-back Ryan Hayes before Hegarty provided the assist for Thomas O’Connor to get his second goal of the evening.

A win for the visitors would have had the dual effect of giving them the Munster final spot while sending Cork to Thurles for the semi and that might have happened had Paul Rodgers’ shot not been well-saved by Oisín Walsh.

Instead, Cork hit for their third goal – Zack Biggane finding Walsh, who extricated himself from a challenge that had yielded an advantage call and then fired into the side of the net.

That left it 3-13 to 2-14 and when Cork got three of the next four points, there was the slightest glimmer that they might be able to pull clear and build the lead as they needed to.

Instead, Clare came back, with Hegarty doing much to keep them in touch.

His seventh point left it 3-17 to 2-19 but Barry Walsh’s good tackle deep in Clare territory allowed Finn O’Brien to get Cork’s fourth goal and give breathing space again.

Clare kept fighting – and Cork needed Oisín Walsh to deny Hegarty what would have been a levelling goal in injury time before Barry Walsh made sure of the win with a huge point from his own 45.

Despite playing into what was a stiff easterly wind in the first half, Cork had a positive start as Johnny Murphy opened the scoring inside 12 seconds and James O’Brien doubled the lead – in between, midfielder Ben Walsh had made a driving run goalwards but he was crowded out and Clare cleared.

At the other end, Ronan Kilroy got Clare off the mark and then they had the lead – Michael Collins’ delivery was superbly controlled by Paul Rodgers, who laid off for Thomas O’Connor to deftly finish.

Clare were in front for the remainder of the first half but, while they did forge into a four-point advantage on occasion, they could amass the kind of cushion that the strength of the breeze demanded.

Cork had a boost when O’Flynn goaled on 13 – doing well to force a turnover after Eoghan Gunning had blocked his first effort – and Conor Noonan was a hardworking presence as they contended well.

A couple of O’Brien frees in quick succession left them 1-9 to 1-8 behind and the same gap pertained at the break.

There were plenty more ebbing and flowing to go.

Scorers for Cork: Barry Walsh 1-5 (0-1 f), James O’Brien 0-6 (0-5 f), Johnny Murphy 1-2, Barry O’Flynn, F O’Brien 1-0 each, Z Biggane 0-2, D Heavin, C Garde, Ben Walsh, C Noonan 0-1 each.

Clare: F Hegarty 0-8 (0-5 f), T O’Connor 2-2, M Collins, R Kilroy 0-4 each, R Hayes, D Costello, P Rodgers 0-1 each.

CORK: O Walsh (Youghal); D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), M Barrett (Carrigtwohill), D Heavin (Russell Rovers); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), C Garde (Lisgoold), D O’Leary (Ballincollig); Ben Walsh (Killeagh), C Noonan (Kanturk); Z Biggane (Charleville), Barry Walsh (Killeagh), James O’Brien (Cloyne); Johnny Murphy (Dromina), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), F O’Brien (Erin’s Own).

Subs: J Counihan (Watergrasshill) for Noonan (51-53), John Murphy (Mallow) for Biggane (55), Counihan for O’Leary (57), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh) for F O’Brien (58), Jack O’Brien (Douglas) for Brosnan (59).

CLARE: M Sheedy; J Casey, R Loftus, E Gunning; J Moylan, M O’Halloran, R Hayes; D Costello, G Ball; F Hegarty, M Collins, R Kilroy; S Boyce, T O’Connor, P Rodgers.

Subs: H Doherty for Boye (39), J Hegarty for Moylan (47), R Keane for Ball (49), M Cleary for Rodgers (54), S Arthur for Costello (60).

Referee: K Guina (Limerick).