Munster Senior Football Quarter-Final: Clare 0-14 – Cork 0-13
Colm’s Collin’s charges have firmly left the woes of National Football League relegation in the rear view mirror following a dramatic comeback victory by the minimum against Cork in the Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final at Cusack Park.
Clare started the brightest on home turf, with flowing team movements stemming from the heart of defence , providing the platform for an early Keelan Sexton brace to see Clare lead by 0-02 to 0-00 inside the opening four minutes.
However the concession of frees was a constant thorn in the Banner’s side in the opening period as Stephen Sherlock showed unerring accuracy with all five placed ball opportunities coming his way throughout the half.
Rory Maguire added Cork’s only contribution from play in the first instalment of action on the 27th minute mark , while intervening scores from Eoin Cleary and Podge Collin’s saw Clare mitigate the damage heading into the second half as the Banner trailed at half time by 0-06 to 0-04.
Clare came out of the dressing rooms with ferocity on the restart, showing a clear determination to abandon the woes of National League relegation in the previous weeks as Emmet McMahon split the posts within 30 seconds of the restart.
Cork subsequently issued the expected response with a brace of Stephen Sherlock frees as well as a Seán Powter score , giving the Rebels their biggest advantage of the day on 42 minutes as they led by 0-09 to 0-06.
However Clare’s men for the big occasion’s answered the county’s call in the moment of need with aplomb, as further braces from Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton who would finish the day with four points apiece in addition to a Gavin Cooney special saw the sides level at 0-11 to 0-11 with ten minutes remaining in Cusack Park.
In the frantic closing stages, the teams continued to trade scores in dramatic fashion with late potential winners from Jamie Malone & Captain Eoin Cleary cancelled out by Stephen Sherlock and Kevin O’Donovan respectively.
However coming all the way from corner-back , it was Ennistymon youngster Cillian Rouine who took the assist from North Clare neighbour Malone in the final minute of additional time to secure a famous Banner victory.
As it finished on a full time score in Cusack Park of Clare 0-14 to Cork 0-13.
The Reward for Colm Collin’s men is a semi-final date with neigbours Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds on April 22nd with the winner assured of a place in the Sam Maguire series.
