Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Round 1
Clare 1-20 Cork 0-21
Clare produced a grab and run victory to kick off their 2019 season in stunning fashion as Colin Guilfoyle’s goal turned this contest on its head in the closing stages.
Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor’s team trailed by four on 67 minutes before Guilfoyle’s touch put Clare back in contention and they finished with three more points.
The first three scores came Cork’s way as Jamie Coughlan, Declan Dalton and Cormac Murphy registered white flags inside eight minutes.
Co-Op Superstores @MunsterGAA Hurling League Latest from #Cusack Park
Clare turn things around to deliver priceless win as Niall Deasy, Ryan Taylor and Cathal McInerney add before the finish.
RESULT!!!#Clare 1-20#Cork 0-21@GaaClare @OfficialCorkGAA @CoOpSuperstores #gaa
— Clare FM (@ClareFM) December 29, 2018
Clare were guilty of three misses but eventually got off the mark through a Niall Deasy free on nine minutes.
That was quickly followed by Colm Galvin and Deasy setting up Clare’s first from play from Gary Cooney.
However, the home sides reached five wides by the 12th minute as Cork stretched 0-10 to 0-4 clear. Dalton sent over four placed balls while centre forward Michael O’Halloran was productive with three from play.
Cooney and Deasy both doubled their tallies before Deasy’s third and David Conroy left them just four behind on 29 minutes.
O’Halloran and Dalton restored Cork’s supremacy before Diarmuid Ryan turned for a Clare point a minute before the break. But Coughlan’s second gave John Meyer’s side a 0-13 to 0-7 interval lead.
However, Clare woke up upon the restart and struck four points within three minutes through Deasy, Ryan, Conroy and Cathal Malone before Dalton made it 0-14 to 0-11 in Cork’s favour.
Deasy and Cooney brought Clare back to the minimum on 46 minutes but that margin remained the same entering the final 10 minutes as four Deasy white flags were matched by a Dalton hat-trick (one a sideline cut) and Coughlan.
Cork looked set for the finish line as a Robbie O’Flynn brace and Coughlan put the Leesiders 0-21 to 0-17 clear with just three minutes remaining before the contest turned on its head.
Guilfoyle got the goal to leave one in it again. And when Deasy, Ryan Taylor and Cathal McInerney struck late points, Clare were the winners and victory against Waterford next week will book a final appearance against Tipperary.
Scorers – Clare: Niall Deasy 0-10 (seven frees), Gary Cooney 0-3, Diarmuid Ryan 0-2, David Conroy 0-2, Cathal Malone 0-1, Colin Guilfoyle 1-0, Ryan Taylor 0-1, Cathal McInerney 0-1.
Scorers – Cork: Declan Dalton 0-10 (seven frees, two 65s, one sideline), Michael O’Halloran 0-4, Jamie Coughlan 0-4 (one free), Cormac Murphy 0-1, Robbie O’Flynn 0-2.
Clare: Keith Hogan; Rory Hayes, David Fitzgerald, Jason McCarthy; Cathal Malone, Colm Galvin, Aidan McCarthy; Shane Golden, David Conroy; Ryan Taylor, Niall Deasy, Diarmuid Ryan; Gary Cooney, Aaron Shanagher, Mikey O’Neill.
Subs: Colin Guilfoyle for Conroy (51 mins), Conor Cleary for Galvin (54 mins), Jack Browne for Fitzgerald (59 mins), Cathal McInerney for Shanagher (65 mins).
Cork: Pa Collins; Sean O’Donoghue, David Griffin, David Lowney; Christopher Joyce, Tim O’Mahony, Robert Downey; Conor Cahalane, William Kearney; Cormac Murphy, Michael O’Halloran, Aidan Walsh; Jamie Coughlan, Declan Dalton, Robbie O’Flynn.
Subs: Cormac Beausang for Kearney (63 mins).
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)