Clare have been narrowly beaten in the 2018 McGrath Cup Final
An injury time goal for Cork saw the Rebels win by 3-13 to 3-12.
The Rebels struck for two early goals to lead 2-3 to 0-2 in the opening 10 minutes.
Cork continued to dominate the rest of the half and were 2-8 to 0-4 ahead as the game edged toward the break.
Keelan Sexton then rattled the back of the net for the Banner to cut the gap, but the Rebels led by double scores as they headed for the dressing rooms on a 2-8 to 1-4 scoreline.
If Cork had a dream start to the first half, Clare had an even better one to the second.
Alan Sweeney goaled to cut the gap further as the Banner hit 1-4 unanswered to draw the tie level with Conor Finucane hitting 0-2 along with points from Sexton and Darragh Bohannan.
The Rebels then edged in front once more before Clare captain Cathal O’Connor restored parity.
With 16 minutes gone in the second half, the Banner hit the front for the first time as Gearoid O’Brien slotted home from close range, but the Rebels responded straight away with a brace of points to leave it Clare 3-9 Cork 2-11.
Conor Finucane’s free pushed Clare two clear and another Banner point from Gearoid O’Brien stretched the gap back to three with 15 minutes left to play.
Eimhin Courtney was next on the scoresheet to send Clare 3-12 to 2-11 in front as the game edged toward the closing 5 minutes, but Cork struck once more to stay within touching distance.
Stephen Sherlock landed a late free to cut the gap to two as the game entered injury time, and then found the back of the Banner net for a second time to send the Rebels one ahead.
Up next for the Banner is the opening game of the 2018 National Football League Division Two when they host Cavan in Cusack Park on Saturday January 27th.