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Cork's goalkeeper Anthony Nash shakes hands with Patrick O'Connor of Clare after the game. INPHO/James Crombie

5 Talking Points - Cork's display in the All-Ireland hurling final

The Rebels goal-scoring power propelled them back into contention yesterday.

1. To feel aggrieved or not with the referee?

Cork may be aggrieved by the amount of injury-time played at the end of the game as it looked like the final whistle would be blown when Patrick Kelly sized up the puckout for the move that lead to Domhnall O’Donovan pointing.

O’Donovan pointed after the two minutes of injury-time elapsed but the question must be asked did Brian Gavin add on time for the pause when Stephen Moylan took a sideline cut moments before?

And also any irritation amongst Cork fans with Gavin must be tempered by an acknowledgement of some of the first-half calls that went Cork’s way.

Two frees that Patrick Horgan converted in the opening period were for questionable fouls and that was a prime example of how Cork got the benefit of referee judgements early on.

2. Cork stay alive despite poor performance

The chief reason why Cork will feel lucky this morning is that they never hit full speed yesterday. Their form graph which had travelled upwards in beating Kilkenny and Dublin took a sharp nosedive against Clare.

Several components of their game broke down as they struggled to stifle Clare’s attacking movement and their half-back dominance. Each of Cork’s second-half goals was a lifeline as their challenge was flagging at the time.

But despite playing poorly, they hung in there and are still in contention to land the Liam McCarthy Cup. That is a testament to their determination and will.

image

Pic: INPHO

3. A dramatic day for Anthony Nash

PJ Ryan may have got man-of-the-match when lining out between the posts for Kilkenny in the 2009 All-Ireland final but it’s difficult to think of a goalkeeper as centrally involved in September hurling drama as Cork’s Nash was yesterday.

At his own end he kept another clean sheet – his fourth of the summer – and produced a great reaction save to deny Darach Honan a first-half goal. While at the other end he saw a 20-yard free in the first-half stopped bravely by Patrick Kelly and a second-half penalty denied by Colin Ryan.

And then there was his bullet to the net from a 20-yard free in the 55th minute. That was the vital score of the match as Cork trailed by five points at the time and were in grave danger of falling away.

image

Pic: INPHO

4. Shane O’Neill holds things together for Cork

Clare fans were not happy with the decision to only brandish a yellow card to Shane O’Neill for his early altercation with Darach Honan. Yet it was indisputable that the Bishopstown man was central to Cork hanging in contention thereafter.

He curbed the threat of Honan, emerged powerfully with possession on several occasions from defence and was ultimately the cornerstone of Cork’s challenge.

O’Neill was an unused sub on the Cork teams that contested the 2005 and 2006 All-Ireland senior finals. It took him until yesterday in his ninth senior inter-county season to actually play in an All-Ireland final and he responded with a major display for his team.

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Pic: INPHO

5. Cork’s attacking travails

Granted they did hit three goals which was a notable increase on their record of one goal from four previous championship matches this summer. But there was no disguising that Cork had a tough afternoon in attack yesterday.

They found it extremely difficult to gain parity with Clare’s powerful trinity of Bugler, Donnellan and Ryan in the half-back line. That lead to a restricted supply of ball into their full-forward line and the scores dried up accordingly in the first-half.

Cork pointed in the 6th minute from play through Seamus Harnedy but it was not until the 32nd minute that they scored from play again while Patrick Horgan was the only other forward to score in the opening period.

Matters improved in the second-half with Conor Lehane particularly impressive. Yet in the overall context of the game only Horgan, for his scoring return of 0-10, and Harnedy were the Cork attackers to consistently threaten.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy has big calls to make before the replay in trying to coax a better performance out of his forwards.

JBM: Clare are a credit, they edged All-Ireland final

A dramatic draw but ‘the biggest anti-climax ever’

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51 Comments
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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:37 AM

    Cork were lucky yesterday and have been in the last 2games the refs decisions always seem to go their way

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    Mute Alan Kelleher
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:39 AM

    Change the record

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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:07 AM

    @alan do you not think the ref sided with cork yesterday

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    Mute Colin C
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:17 AM

    Blah blah, Nelly.

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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:20 AM

    That really adds to the debate

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:27 AM

    The ref did not side with cork yesterday. Does that clear it up?

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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:34 AM

    That’s your opinion

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    Mute Tony Higgins
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:46 AM

    Nelly, it adds just as much to the debate as your repeated comments. You have said the same thing literally dozens of times. We get the picture.

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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:48 AM

    Should cork have been down to 14 men in the first half?

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:49 AM

    No, seeing as it was the same offence that Pat Horgan received a red for, a red which was later rescinded.

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    Mute Kev O Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:54 AM

    It was a straight red. Horgan was playing the ball at least. The ref was atrocious all round. We (Cork) won’t be as bad on the half forward line again. That was where we nearly threw it away. Still can’t believe the replay is on a Saturday. Rules out a lot of traveling support from Cork and Clare.

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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 12:12 PM

    Thank you kev.its good to see there’s at least one honest cork supporter here

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    Mute Kev O Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 12:17 PM

    No point being otherwise. We got outta jail playing badly and Clare on flying form. Can they better yesterday’s showing. Doubt it. Can Cork sort the half forward line and play better than yesterday. Nailed on. 5-6 pt win in 3 weeks.

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    Mute Paul Walker
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    Sep 9th 2013, 12:26 PM

    Troll

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    Mute Bill Butler
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    Sep 9th 2013, 12:45 PM

    nelly you would have to be blind or from cork not to see it ,here we have had the best championship season for as long as i remember and every body is talking about how woe full decision making knocked out the cats and another one against the dubs,

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    Mute Pat Murphy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:51 PM

    everybody seems to forget Honan lased out aswell!!
    I thought the red was fair overall, dodgy decisions each way.
    the Clare half backline were just outstanding!!! why cork kept dropping it into the half forward was just beyond me.
    for me Clare lacked the killer instinct, 4/5 pts in front a couple times and still they let cork into the game.
    I do believe they have squandered their chance yesterday!!!

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    Mute Paula Carr Whelan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:58 PM

    http://youtu.be/sbZOJUakXDw

    how did Honan lash out??? it looks to me like Honans hurley is being held then Nash clears the ball and he gets the hurley down on the helmet after the ball has been cleared , with the umpire straight in front of the incident it should have been red. should be an interesting battle again , roll on 3 weeks.

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    Mute Pat Murphy
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    Sep 14th 2013, 5:03 PM

    u clearly weren’t at the game esp in the hill at the time!

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    Mute Harry the Cat
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:46 AM

    As a neutral, thought that was a great final, To me Clare looked better on the day
    although they were lucky to grab the draw at the death. Both teams and fans
    deserve another match.

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    Mute Zoe Daly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:41 AM

    Me & my family were watching the match, as neutrals.
    agree Nelly – the referee was terrible.
    We could hardly believe, what we were seeing.
    Cork have been very well treated by the referees, ALL season – not just in yesterday’s game.
    Clare will feel that they have been robbed, – & rightly so.
    Hopefully if there is any justice, Clare will win next time round.
    We will all be shouting for the banner in my house, next time!

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    Mute Kev O Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:55 AM

    Didn’t watch the Limerick game then.

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    Mute dave
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    Sep 9th 2013, 12:58 PM

    Probably the only match you watched all year.

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    Mute Aimie Walsh 
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:13 PM

    Woohoo good woman Zoe xx hon the banner boys…:)

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    Mute Hank
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:44 AM

    Can’t believe Clare didnt win that game, much the better team. But that’s scoring goals for ya!

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:43 AM

    Cork need to win a lot more ball from puck outs the next day to have a chance or else revert to the Donal Og style short puck out. Davy’s “little fish” cleaned every high ball yesterday.

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    Mute Michael Roughan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:20 AM

    I think the turning point was when cork lined out with 16 players, that fellow in black playing as a third midfielder for cork really was the difference between the two team, no doubt he will get an all star after single handed drag cork out of the jaws of defeat

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    Mute RealCorkLanger
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:27 AM

    I know.Pity he didnt end the match on 72 mins like he was supposed to instead of giving Clare more chances to draw.

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    Mute TheBlackMouse
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:39 AM

    At least 2 minutes of extra time ! If cork didn’t take 31 seconds for a side line cut , they would have won. Cute Cork Hoorism backed fired and good enough for em !!

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:39 PM

    Yawn

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    Mute Frank Buffalo
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:44 PM

    If the ref added on 30 secs every time the ball went out for a sideline the game would still be on!
    Maybe it’s only in “magic” time added on that he does that?

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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:45 PM

    “Extra time AT LEAST two minutes.”

    “Extra time AT LEAST two minutes.”

    “Extra time AT LEAST two minutes.”

    “Extra time AT LEAST two minutes.”

    “Extra time AT LEAST two minutes.”

    “Extra time AT LEAST two minutes.”

    “Extra time AT LEAST two minutes.”

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    Mute Frank Buffalo
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:49 PM

    Sorry didn’t catch that.

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    Mute James Quinn
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:58 PM

    Never heard such sh:te from cork fans. Injury time is at least 2 minutes. Its not the ref id be givin out about if i was a cork fan, got hammered all over the field! There not giving out about dirty tramp Shane o Neill only been showed a yellow, he is at it all year, umpires a joke, only 5 yards away, took the easy option, yellow card to the 2 of em.

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    Mute Frank Buffalo
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    Sep 9th 2013, 2:04 PM

    Clare showed no killer instinct. On top but couldn’t put Cork away and could in the end have lost. That has to be worrying for them because Cork won’t be as bad again.
    Anyway up the deise after a great win for the minors yesterday!

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    Mute James Quinn
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:31 PM

    He should have been sent off against Kilkenny for a crazy challenge on Larkin and yesterday he struck honan on the head. U obviously weren’t watching the same game as everyone else. Getting away with murder all year.

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    Mute Frank Brady
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:01 AM

    Both teams deserve another crack at it.we can nit pick all we want to no avail.the 2 teams contributed to a great game,

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    Mute Ronan McGrath
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:59 AM

    When will people realise, the added time at the end of a game is the MINIMUM to be added. Not the maximum. It’s also at the referee’s discretion. So when two minutes were signalled, it meant a MINIMUM of two minutes were to be added on. If people realised this, there’d be no arguments re. time at end of games.

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    Mute Frank Buffalo
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:46 PM

    Thanks Ronan I’m sure not one person knew that.

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    Mute Karl Waters
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:24 AM

    The GAA were the lucky ones yesterday. Not Cork for getting out of jail, or Clare with the last gasp point.

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    Mute Diarmaid Twomey
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    Sep 9th 2013, 6:21 PM

    I really don’t want to poo poo on Clares parade as I really admire the team, play serious hurling, but just one thing that really wrecked my head yesterday, that was just stupid carry on by the Clare team that was not caught on TV cameras was when Nash was trying to come up to take the 21 yard free in 2nd half – First Hohnan started to wrestle with Nash so he couldn’t go up and had to be pulled off him, then one of the midfielders ran down towards him to block him when Hohnan hadn’t succeeded and then a 3rd player made another attempt when Nash was almost to the 21 yard line. It was just needless crap, this rubbish of trying to stop players by playing even when wrestling is required is a bugbear of mine! Play hurling and stop with that kind of rubbish!

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    Mute Diarmaid Twomey
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:04 PM

    I was bloody gutted at the end and cursing the ref but after a momentary rant I realised that Clare didn’t really deserve to lose in fairness. The ironic thing about it all is hearing pundits and journos saying Cork didn’t deserve to win, even though I have heard the same commentators comment on the greatness of KK being they can win even while playing badly? In any event, we have alot to improve on while I think Clare have very little to improve on, they were awesome! This can only bode well for us really! Rebels Abu! Roll on the 28th!

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    Mute David Garland
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    Sep 9th 2013, 1:33 PM

    Bloody stupid that the GAA don’t allow extra time to be played if it’s a draw. It is a FINAL after all. The trouble and expense fans have to go through just to make one final never mind asking them to do it again. Only in Ireland could a final not really be a final..

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    Mute Kieran Harvey
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    Sep 9th 2013, 3:09 PM

    As a Clare man, I’m actually delighted with the draw. We’re improving every game and we showed a clear gulf in class between ourselves and Cork in terms of skill, brains and striking. Fair play to Cork for keeping in touch with us though with goals. The ref was of course atrociously biased but that’s fine, we’re used to that in Clare and yet we still got the draw. Davy completely outsmarted JBM who wasn’t expecting us to abandon the sweeper system, took 55 minutes for him to figure out what Davy was doing.

    We’ll tighten up our ll back-line the next day, work a goal or two and put Cork to the sword comfortably, I have absolutely no doubt. We are simply superior in almost every department.

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    Mute Pat Murphy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:34 PM

    I totally disagree with the first part of your statement that there is a clear gulf in skill, brains and striking. You could of that about Cork when we beat Clare in Munster.
    I truely believe that Cork were off the boil yesterday and have alot more to offer.
    My fear for Clear is that they failed to put Cork to the sword after they lead by 4/5pts a couple of times, any All-Ireland quality team would of done so.
    Cork, while playing bady, never gave up and were only 2pts behind at halftime when they should of been 4 behind. I think Clare will be a very formidable team for the coming yes with all the u21 on the current senior panel.
    Why Cork kept hitting high ball into the half forwards, I will never understand because Clare were just supreme there.
    I have to fancy Cork in the replay because of the way they bounced back after defeat to Limerick and kicked Kilkenny off the field.
    Eitherway it’s gonna be another great match!!

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    Mute Aimie Walsh 
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:14 PM

    Comment of the year..well said. C’mon the banner

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    Mute Veronica
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:28 PM

    As a cork supporter to be fair i have to congratulate clare on a good game yesterday…. Cork were very sloppy and to me anthony nash saved the day with the golas he scored…. Not getting in to the whole ref thing as its been trashed enough already but i think if the ref had not blown the whistle when he did the cup could have been going to clare as i think they would have def scored again….. Obviously i’m rooting for cork to win but they really need to up their game for the replay in order to win as clare ran circles around them… I know i most likely will get mangled from cork fans here but we’re all entitled to our opinion and this is mine….

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    Mute Gavin Ahern
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    Sep 9th 2013, 6:10 PM

    I agree O’Neill should have got a red but all this crap about the ref being biased towards cork is wrecking my head. Every time a Clare man had the ball anf was touched they went down like a soccer player. Knowing that youll probably score every free makes it easy to play for frees I suppose.

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    Mute Tom Lynch
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    Sep 9th 2013, 7:25 PM

    Agree completely. Don’t know why people have to get so het up about it.
    Clare were better team, cork under performed. Draw probably fair result. Replay likely to favour cork as they will be better for the experience whereas Clare played to their max.

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    Mute Pa Gleeson
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:32 PM

    Tom Lynch how do you know clare can play no better and cork underperformed?? Clare were sharper, faster and more skillful, no reason why clare cant go out and do that again…man for man we have better players, thats not going to change! Small things decide games, if podge collins scores that goal, we go 6pts up, game over, 30secs later and a great cork goal and its a drawn game…

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Sep 9th 2013, 5:57 PM

    O’neill seems to be able to peel fellas with impunity.. He will run out of road yet.!

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    Mute Yvonne Norris
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:50 PM

    All i have to say about the ref of the day is when things dont go peoples way and the disered result isn got then its easy blame the ref. Clare were undoubtly all over the first half and won that half but as stated by someone else already if dat happened with any other team in any other final then clare shud have won. Its the true fighters aka the rebals who trail by 4pts in average through out the game and come back and score 3 goals in 25mins. All that said i believe that the next day will be as fruitfull and exciting and truely the best team will win. I know ill be there roaring for cork as i did sunday. Cork abu

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