Clare’s ability to rack up points could swing it
I know this is the sixth meeting of Cork and Clare this year but I could watch these two teams go at it every weekend.
They’re both attack-minded, have a premium on skill and pace, superb first-touch a prerequisite to earn a place on either team and they play with purpose, each side coached to use the ball intelligently.
Clare had a mere nine wides the last day but that was from 34 shots on goal. On any other day that would have been really praise-worthy but they were outdone by Cork and well outdone. A mere three wides in 70-plus minutes of top-class hurling where the pressure on the man was relentless, the third of those coming in injury-time from a narrow-angle line ball.
If anything, this clash is even more mouth-watering than the one we were all anticipating three weeks ago. We already knew there was little or nothing between the teams and thus it transpired again, but now there are all the additional questions and conundrums thrown up by that drawn match.
First the starting line-ups. Cork have gone for one change in the bigger, stronger Cian McCarthy for Jamie Coughlan in the half-forward line where they were eaten alive the last day.
Clare have named the same starting 15 but will that happen? Strong rumours have emanated from Cusack Park that either Shane O’Donnell or Cathal McInerney may get the nod over Darach Honan.
Time will also tell whether Clare eschew the sweeper system again and go six on six in their back line. I think they’ll stay as they were and dare Cork to do any better than they did three weeks ago.
What about goals? Cork got three on September 8 and could easily have had five. Clare got none but could have had two. Will that happen again?
Whatever about the split (3-0 to Cork) I think we will have goals because there are too many talented and goal-minded players on both sides not to. Who will get them? God knows.
Then look at the points. Will Cork again concede 25? That’s the most they’ve ever conceded in a championship match and what a time to do it. But will it happen again?
It could you know, it could. On a cold evening in Sixmilebridge in February, not conducive to scoring, Clare put up 20 points. In the league in March, under lights in Páirc Uí Rinn, they went a couple better (1-22 to 1-16). Then in the relegation decider in April the Clare attack went to town, broke the 30-point barrier (0-31 to 2-23) after extra-time.
Ominously, in that game they also had 22 wides. Look at the above, you see a pattern developing. Cork can get their goals against Clare but repeatedly, the Munster semi-final loss apart (0-23 to 0-15), Clare have been able to out-point them.
If this were a boxing match then you’d say Clare are technically better, able to pick off their points at will, but are always susceptible to the knockout punch from harder-hitting Cork. And that’s it, isn’t it?
Verdict: Clare
