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AS IT HAPPENED

As It Happened: Clare v Cork, Munster U21 hurling championship final

Who would claim the honours tonight in Cusack Park? Here’s how it unfolded.

Clare's Jack Browne and Cork's Anthony Spillane race for the ball James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

WHO DOESN’T LOVE the U21 hurling championship? The Munster final WAs down for decision tonight in Ennis and we were hoping for a cracker between Clare and Cork.

We followed the action all the way from Cusack Park.

As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Result: Clare 1-28 Cork 1-13

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Evening and welcome along to a big night in the Bord Gáis Energy U21 hurling championship. It’s the Munster final in Ennis between Clare and Cork. Throw in at 7.15pm.

So who do you reckon is going to win this? Clare are the masters at this grade in recent years, winning the last two Munster and All-Ireland titles. Cork have to go all the way back to 2007 for their last Munster U21 hurling crown.

 

 

To the team news then. Clare bring back Eoin Enright at midfield and a lad called Shane O’Donnell in attack. He’s supposed to be a handy forward, the Éire Óg club man.

CLARE
1. Keith Hogan (Clooney-Quin)

2. Jarlath Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
3. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)

5. Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea)
6. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
7. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)

8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. Eoin Enright (Kilmaley)

10. Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea – captain)
12. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)

13. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
14. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones)
15. David Reidy (Éire Óg)

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Just the one change for Cork. Cormac Murphy was shown a red card in the semi-final win over Waterford and is now suspended so Killian McIntyre comes into replace him.

CORK
1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Stephen Murphy (Blackrock)
3. Colm Barry (Castlelyons)
4. Cian Buckley (Na Piarsaigh)

5. Kevin Kavanagh (Carrigaline)
6. Killian Burke (Midleton – Captain)
7. Killian McIntyre (Carrigaline)

8. Darragh Brosnan (Brian Dillon’s)
9. Rickard Cahalane (Ballymartle)

10. Shane O Keeffe (Blackrock)
11. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)
12. Michael Collins (Ballinhassig)

13. Anthony Spillane (Castlelyons)
14. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
15. Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline)

Here’s the Clare subs:

16. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle), 17. Shane Gleeson (Cratloe), 18. Shane McGrath (Feakle), 19. Alan O’Neill (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), 20. Eoin Quirke (Whitegate), 21. Shane O’Brien (Clonlara), 22. Patrick Fitzgerald (Bodyke), 23. Stephen Ward (Clarecastle), 24. Brian Carey (Sixmilebridge).

And here’s the Cork subs:

16. Michael Brown (Ballyhea), 17. Colm Coleman (Ballymartle), 18. Paul Fitzgerald (Douglas), 19. Mark Sugrue (Bandon), 20. Cillian O’Connor (Mallow), 21. Mark O’Connor (Douglas), 22. Cormac Walsh (Midleton), 23. Alan Dennehy (Charleville), 24. Eoin Smith (Blackrock).

Here’s the prize on offer tonight.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

We’re almost set to go. Massive crowd in Cusack Park.

Clare 0-1 Cork 0-0: 1 mins – Flying start by Clare as Aaron Cunningham points after only 15 seconds.

Clare 0-2 Cork 0-0: 2 mins – Now the lead is doubled as Tony Kelly bounds onto a loose ball and flights over a point.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Clare 0-3 Cork 0-0: 4 mins – Cork need to get a grip on Tony Kelly. He’s already causing problems as he lobs over his second point of the evening.

It nearly got worse for Cork as Aaron Cunningham lashed in a goalbound shot but netminder Patrick Collins was on hand to divert the ball away.

Clare 0-4 Cork 0-0: 6 mins – Clare still get something from the attack as Bobby Duggan slots the ’65.

One pre-match change we neglected to mention was Cormac Walsh starting for Cork instead of McIntyre.

Clare 0-4 Cork 0-1: 9 mins – Cork get off the mark and it’s thanks to Rob O’Shea who fires over a free.

Clare 0-5 Cork 0-1: 10 mins – Outstanding long-range point from Peter Duggan for Clare.

Clare 0-6 Cork 0-1: 11 mins – That’s marvellous play by Clare. Brilliant precise passing from Seadna Morey and Colm Galvin sees the ball swept up the pitch and the move culminates in Bobby Duggan striking over off his left.

Clare 0-7 Cork 0-1: 13 mins – Bobby Duggan again and Clare are six clear.

Sub: Cork aren’t wasting time here. An early substitution sees Cormac Walsh withdrawn and Mark Sugrue introduced.

That looks like a reaction to the form of Colm Galvin as he has been orchestrating the midfield play for Clare.

Clare are still completely on top but their shooting has been a little awry over the last few minutes. Their approach work and interplay has been outstanding though.

Clare 0-8 Cork 0-1: 20 mins – Clare put Cork under serious pressure in defence and turn over the ball before Aaron Cunningham hooks over a point.

Clare 0-9 Cork 0-1: 21 mins – The lead is gone out to eight now as Bobby Duggan lands a long-range free.

Goal for Shane O’Donnell!

Clare 1-10 Cork 0-1: 22 mins – There’s only one team in action so far. Clare are putting in a storming display with O’Donnell firing to the net after a mazy run and then Galvin lands a point.

Clare 1-12 Cork 0-2: 23 mins – The agony continues for Cork as Bobby Duggan lands a pair of points, one from play and one from a free. The Rebels do pull a point back through Mark Sugrue.

Yellow card for Cork defender Colm Barry.

Shane Gleeson is on for Shane O’Donnell in the Clare team as a temporary sub.

Clare 1-13 Cork 0-3: 27 mins – O’Shea pops over a free for Cork in reply to Duggan pointing a free for Clare.

Clare 1-14 Cork 0-4: 29 mins – Lovely point from play by Rob O’Shea but Duggan then cancels it out by converting a free for Clare.

Clare 1-14 Cork 0-5: 30 mins – Better from Cork as Michael Collins picks off a fine point after being set up by O’Shea who fired in a crossfield ball.

Half-Time: Clare 1-15 Cork 0-5

Here’s the first-half scorers:

Clare: Bobby Duggan 0-9 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65), Shane O’Donnell 1-0, Tony Kelly, Aaron Cunningham 0-2 each, Peter Duggan, Colm Galvin 0-1 each.

Cork: Rob O’Shea 0-3 (0-2f), Michael Collins, Mark Sugrue 0-1 each.

Clare 1-16 Cork 0-6: 31 mins -Back under way for the second-half. Michael Collins and Peter Duggan trade early points.

Sub: Rickard Cahalane gone off the Cork team with Killian McIntyre introduced.

Clare 1-16 Cork 0-7: 32 mins – O’Shea points another free for Cork.

Clare 1-17 Cork 0-7: 33 mins – Duggan again points a free for Clare, his tenth of the night.

Any way back for Cork here? Clare have been simply awesome.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Clare 1-19 Cork 0-8: 36 mins – No let up from Clare. Reidy and Cunningham raise white flags although Cork’s best player tonight Rob O’Shea did land a point in between those scores.

Clare 1-20 Cork 0-9: 37 mins – Points swapped by Reidy and McIntyre. Cork need goals and they need them fast.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Goal chance for Cork but Keith Hogan produces a superb save to deny Alan Cadogan.

Cork hit three goals against Waterford and need to somehow discover that goalscoring touch again.

Goal for Cork from Anthony Spillane!

Clare 1-21 Cork 1-9: 43 mins – And Cork do hit the net! A ’65 is caught by Shane O’Keeffe and as he charges through, a massive scramble ensues in the goalmouth. The ball eventually spills loose and it’s booted to the net by Spillane. Tony Kelly has just converted a ’65 for Clare.

Sub: Shane Gleeson is on for Clare for Bobby Duggan.

Clare 1-22 Cork 1-9: 45 mins – Glorious point for Clare by Galvin.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Clare 1-22 Cork 1-11: 46 mins – Rob O’Shea nails a ’65 for Cork and then O’Keeffe scores from play.

Clare 1-23 Cork 1-11: 50 mins – Galvin on the mark again for Clare.

Clare 1-24 Cork 1-11: 51 mins – Cunningham points for Clare.

Sub: Mark O’Connor on for Cork for Anthony Spillane.

Clare 1-24 Cork 1-12: 53 mins – Rob O’Shea on target again for Cork as he scores a free.

Here’s one happy Clare fan in our comments section.

Kevin O’Malley Jnr: “Superb stuff. Can’t tell you how proud I am of these lads. The future of Clare hurling is in good hands with these guys.”

Sub: Shane O’Donnell goes off and Clare bring in Cathal O’Connell.

Clare 1-25 Cork 1-12: 55 mins – Early impact by O’Connell as he lands a point.

Sub: Alan O’Neill now on for Clare for Conor Cleary.

Clare 1-26 Cork 1-12: 57 mins – Shane Gleeson points for Clare.

Sub: Into the game comes Shane McGrath for Clare for Enright.

Clare 1-28 Cork 1-12: 61 mins – Further points for Clare from O’Connell – a free – and Gleeson.

Clare 1-28 Cork 1-13: 61 mins – Late consolation point for Cork by Michael Collins.

Full-Time: Clare 1-28 Cork 1-13

And that’s it, Clare run out fifteen-point winners with a superb display. No doubt who the dominant team was.

A great night for Clare hurling as they win their third successive Munster U21 title and their fourth in six years.

Some good news for Cork hurling.

That’s all from us tonight, thanks for joining.

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