Gaelic Games

Clare land hat-trick of Munster Under-21 titles

Cork capitulate as Clare move on to face Antrim in All-Ireland semi-final

Clare’s Shane O’Donnell scores his side’s first goal despite the challenge from Cork’s Stephen Murphy at Cusack Park, Ennis, last night. Photograph: Sportsfile
Clare’s Shane O’Donnell scores his side’s first goal despite the challenge from Cork’s Stephen Murphy at Cusack Park, Ennis, last night. Photograph: Sportsfile
Wed Jul 30 2014 - 22:00

Clare 1-28 Cork 1-13 Clare made it three Munster titles in a row when they comprehensively defeated Cork in front of 12, 995 spectators at Cusack Park, Ennis, last evening.

Clare hurled with abandon and their composure on the ball and their first touch left Cork reeling from early on and they led 1-15 to 0-5 at the break.

Aaron Cunningham and Tony Kelly, twice, got Clare off the mark inside the first five minutes, setting a trend for the remainder of the hour.

Clare’s Peter Duggan battles to win possession during Wednesday night’s Munster Under-21 hurling final against Cork at Cusack Park, Ennis, Co Clare. Photograph: Sportsfile
Clare’s Peter Duggan battles to win possession during Wednesday night’s Munster Under-21 hurling final against Cork at Cusack Park, Ennis, Co Clare. Photograph: Sportsfile

A Robert O’Shea free in the ninth minute got Cork on the scoreboard but it was to be their sole score until the 24th minute when substitute Mark Sugrue added a point. But at that stage, Clare had amassed a whopping 1-12, with the goal coming in the 21st minute through Shane O’Donnell.

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The hat-trick hero of last year's senior All-Ireland replayed final was a thorn in the Cork defence. This time he got onto a good pass by fellow Éire Óg club-man David Reidy and he drilled it low past Patrick Collins in the Cork goal.

Bobby Duggan added three points before the break to put 13 between the sides. Duggan notched up an impressive 10 points before being replaced early in the second period.

After the restart Cork pointed through Michael Collins and even though they upped their display considerably in the second half, they were left with a mountain to climb.

Insurmountable lead

Clare, for their part, were not intent on letting it slip and some fine scores from their entire attack ensured an insurmountable deficit. Cork’s valiant attempt to fightback was rewarded in the 42nd minute when corner-forward

Anthony Spillane

kicked to the Clare net. But it was to prove but a consolation for their travelling followers.

Over the hour both goalkeepers came to their side's rescue. Cork's Collins denied Cunningham in the sixth minute, while his opposite number Keith Hogan made a fine save from Cork's Alan Cadogan 12 minutes into the second half.

Clare will now face Antrim, the team they defeated in last year’s final, on August 23rd in the All-Ireland semi-final. After last evening’s performance, one would be brave to wager against them.

CLARE: K Hogan; J Colleran, S Morey J Browne; G O'Connell, C Cleary, J Shanahan; C Galvin (0-3), E Enright; P Duggan (0-2), T Kelly (capt, 0-3), B Duggan 0-10, five frees, one 65); D Reidy (0-3), A Cunningham (0-4), S O'Donnell (1-0). Subs: S Gleeson (0-2)for B Duggan (42 mins), C O'Connell (0-1, free) for O'Donnell (55 mins), A O'Neill for Cleary (56 mins), S McGrath for Enright (57 mins), B Carey for Colleran (58 mins). CORK: P Collins; S Murphy, C Barry (capt), C Walsh; K Kavanagh, K Burke, K McIntyre (0-1); D Brosnan, R Calahane; S O'Keeffe (0-1), C Spillane, M Collins (0-3); A Spillane (1-0), A Cadogan, R O'Shea (0-7, four frees, one 65). Subs: M Sugrue (0-1) for Walsh (13 mins), K McIntyre (0-1) for Cahalane (half-time), M O'Connor for A Spillane (51 mins). Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary)