Munster MHC: Cork on song as they overcome Clare
Callum Coffey of Cork looks to get past Clare's Cian Maxted during Friday's Electric Ireland Munster MHC game at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Cork put themselves in a strong position to reach the Electric Ireland Munster MHC final as they saw off Clare at Páirc Uí Rinn on Friday night.
Having lost to Tipperary a fortnight ago, a rematch with the Premier County is within reach after a composed display that still has room for improvement.
Cork were able to call upon captain Eoin Considine at wing-back and Callum Coffey – one of two survivors from last year – in the inside forward line and both played key roles.
Coffey’s four points from play were just one element of a good all-round showing while Considine’s strength and aerial ability were major assets – one of his skyscraping catches set in motion the move that ended with Coffey playing in Tadhg McCarthy for the game’s crucial score, the goal to make it 1-11 to 1-6 on 33 minutes.
Their cushion restored, Cork were able to ease clear, with Coffey landing a nice point following good work from Stephen McHugh and Cathal Barry while goalscorer McCarthy landed a beauty from the sideline.
Further green flags might have come – Liam O’Regan fired a shot across the face of goal while Cian Maxted got enough of a hook on a Coffey effort to take the sting out of it and Patrick Murphy saved from sub Ryan Cagney – but the Cork defence did not look like allowing Clare a way back into the contest.
Bobby Power added late points from play and frees to finish with 0-8 as Cork moved 11 clear before Clare’s Ben Talty had the last score.
The Banner, who conclude their round-robin programme with two points, must wait on the outcomes of next week’s games to see if they can make the All-Ireland quarter-finals while Cork know that the avoidance of defeat against Limerick at the same venue will send them to the decider.
Donal Mulcahy’s side didn’t trail at any stage in the first half but, while they created goal openings more than once, they were unable to take those opportunities and were wasteful with point attempts.
It meant that a comfortable four-point lead of 0-8 to 0-4 was wiped out quickly after James O’Donnell’s fine goal for Clare on 27 minutes was followed by a pointed free from Ben Talty.
However, the Rebels reacted well and Considine and Seán Riordan combined to set up Coffey, with a foul on him allowing Ring to get his third.
Then, in injury time, hard work from the impressive Power yielded a long-range free – they had proven troublesome up to then but Power pointed for a 0-10 to 1-5 lead and Riordan extended that within a minute of the restart.
A three-point lead became six with the goal – Clare felt there was some over-carrying in the move – and from there Cork built their lead to put themselves in a good position ahead of next week’s clash with Limerick.
B Power 0-8 (0-4 f), T McCarthy 1-2, C Coffey 0-4, S Ring 0-3 (0-2 f), C Murphy 0-2, T Murphy, S Riordan, R Cagney 0-1 each.
B Talty 0-6 (0-4 f), J O’Donnell 1-2, I Hassett, C Mullins, M Sheehan, P Murphy (0-1 f) 0-1 each.
M Walsh (Youghal); J Batterbury (Castletownroche), F Cahill (Midleton), N Coffey (Na Piarsaigh); E Considine (Sarsfields), D Nolan (Erin’s Own), C Barry (Bride Rovers); S Riordan (Kilworth), S McHugh (Newtownshandrum); T McCarthy (Watergrasshill), B Power (Ballincollig), L O’Regan (St Finbarr’s); S Ring (Carrigtwohill), C Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), C Murphy (Ballinora).
T Murphy (Cloughduv) for Riordan (41), R Cagney for O’Regan (45), T Huggins (Sarsfields) for McCarthy, D Barry (Douglas) for Murphy (both 53), G Kingston (Mallow) for Considine (58).
P Murphy; M Fitzpatrick, C Maxted, O Perill; P Murphy, C Daly, S Connellan; O Duignan, I Hassett; J O’Donnell, G Madden, C Mullins; D McKenna, N Belenko, B Talty.
D Seery for Duignan, F Daffy for Madden (both 43), C Coffey for McKenna, M Sheehan for Belenko (50), S Daly for Connellan (53).
C Ryan (Tipperary).
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