This article is from page 73 of the 2011-06-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 73 JPG
Cork 3-19 – Clare 1-02 at Clarecastle
THE SCOREBOARD won’t frustrate as much as fact that Clare just never got going. Or perhaps more accurately that they weren’t allowed to get going by a ravenous Cork side who almost produced the perfect hour of football.
Such pace, passion and intensity was simply a joy to behold and should be the benchmark for Clare to aspire to in the coming years. Forget the fact that Clare were plying their trade two tiers below Cork in the league as on this display, it is unlikely that anyone could have lived with the Rebels who moved the ball around with strength, pace and purpose.
Clare started both halves brightly but it would not be until the second half that they opened their account such was the control of this Cork outfit who built up a 1-11 to 0-0 halftime advantage. Dual star Briege Corkery and Nollaig Cleary were the instigators of the goal for Rhona Ní Bhuachalla to finish in the tenth minute while Valerie Mulcahy (5) and Cleary (4) would do the bulk of the point scoring.
By the finish, all six forwards would get on the scoresheet and out of the 3-19 final total, all but two points would come from play which only enhances their display on Clare soil.
Eimear Considine finally broke Clare’s deadlock after only 15 seconds of the restart while sister Ailish might have dented Cork’s lead further soon afterwards but saw her shot for goal just go the wrong side of the post. Clare did finally breach Aisling Barrett’s goal-line in the 37th minute when Eimear Considine finished at the near post after some great solo work from the hardworking Louise Henchy.
However, Cork’s reply was even more powerful when Amy O’Shea was allowed to fist to the net four minutes later while Mariead Kelly added a third goal around the turn of the final quarter.
With that, Clare’s heads dropped and Cork punished further with six more points to maintain their bid for an eighth successive provincial crown. Clare’s route will be through the backdoor where they will hope for better fortune and a sustained run in the championship.
Cork
Aisling Barrett (Donoughmore),Ann MarieWalsh (Inch Rovers),Angela Walsh (Inch Rovers), Deirdre O’Reilly (Liscarroll), Briege Corkery (St Vals), Brid Stack (Liscarroll), Geraldine O’Flynn (Liscarroll), Juliet Murphy (Donoughmre) (0-3 2f),AnnieWalsh (Inch Rovers), Nollaig Cleary (Gabriel Rangers) (0-4), Mairead Kelly (Liscarroll) (1-0), Grace Kearney (Bride Rovers) (0-3),Valerie Mulcahy (Rockban) (0-6), Rhona Ní Bhuachalla (Naomh Fionnbarra) (1-1),Amy O’Shea (Inch Rovers) (1-0)
Subs
Rena Buckley (Donoughmore) (0-2) for AnnieWalsh (44 mins), Oralith Farmer (Midleton) for Ann MarieWalsh (46 mins), Laura McMahon (Rosscarbery) for Cleary (48 mins),Aine Sheehan (Glanworth) for O’Flynn (50 mins), Geradline O’Flynn for Ní Bhuachalla (54 mins, inj)
Clare
Emma O’Drsicoll (The Banner), Clare Hestor (Fergus Rovers), Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Sinead Eustace (Coolmeen), Louise Woods (The Banner), Carmel Considine (Liscannor), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Marie Considine (Liscannor), Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels),Ailish Considine (Kilmihil), Louise Henchy (The Banner) (0-1), Niamh Keane (The Banner), Niamh O’Dea (The Banner), Fiona Lafferty (The Banner), Eimear Considine (Kilmihil) (1-1)
Subs
Laurie Ryan (The Banner) for Kelly (42 mins), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket-onFergus) for O’Connor (46 mins), Naomi Carroll (The Banner) for A. Considine (52 mins),Aine Burke (Liscannor) for Lafferty Carol O’Leary (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Keane (57 mins)
Player of the Game
Valerie Mulcahy (Cork) Referee Richie O’Connor (Tipperary)