Resurgent Cork Deny Clare Munster Hurling Glory

Photo © Clare FM

Cork have been crowned Munster Senior Hurling Champions, denying Clare’s hopes of ending a twenty year wait for the provincial title.

Peter Duggan opened the scoring for Clare and racked up five points in the first half, while John Conlon also scored five as the Clonlara man threatened the Cork defence.

David Reidy, who’s match suspension was overturned last weekend, announced his return to the squad with an excellent goal, catching a Tony Kelly pass and beating Anthony Nash.

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A second goal would follow fifteen minutes when a Donal Tuohy puck out landed on the hurl of Peter Duggan in front of the Cork goal, who flicked the sliotar past Nash to extend the lead to seven points.

With only a matter of minutes before half time it seemed like Clare would be taking a dominant lead into half time until Cork’s Luke Meade sliced his way through the Clare defence and raised the green flag for Cork.

Half time in Semple Stadium saw the Banner lead 2-11 to 1-10.

The Rebels came into the second half with a renewed energy and restricted Clare to just two points in the first twenty minutes of the half, as they cut Conlon’s supply and a shaken Duggan uncharacteristically sent several shots wide.

Clare somewhat stalled Cork’s run and sat tied on 21 points apiece until Seamus Harnedy got through the defence and struck the ball past a diving Donal Tuohy to extend Cork’s lead again.

David Fitzgerald, Darragh Corry, Conor McGrath and Ian Galvin were subbed on in the closing stages in the hopes of boosting the Clare side, but every Clare point was quickly answered on the other side of the pitch.

Jason McCarthy descended on the Cork goal in the second minute of injury time to close the Cork lead to two points.

However, Clare’s attempts at scoring another before the full time whistle went unrewarded and the rebels emerged victorious.

Full time score in Semple Stadium was Cork 2-24 (30), Clare 3-19 (27).

Clare FM’s Syl O’Connor and Tommy Guilfoyle reflected on what went wrong for Clare after the match: