Cork composure and commitment catches Clare cold
Ultimately it was two great goals from the stick of Patrick Horgan that decided this contest.
The first was an audacious strike three minutes before half-time, from a 22 metre free struck to the net with aplomb with the Clare rearguard caught cold, expecting him to shoot for a point.
Perhaps Clare’s defenders had been lulled into a false sense of security when he opted to point from a similar situation a few minutes earlier.
The second goal was via the ‘new penalty’ which was hit with power, venom and with a degree of topspin that gave the defending trio no chance.
The timing of the goals was also important psychologically, the first coming just before half-time and the second with 12 minutes remaining, which effectively ended the game as a contest.
Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy said on these pages during the week that they had learned hugely from their All-Ireland final meetings last year. This display was proof that those lessons had been absorbed.
The Cork management got all the match-ups correct in defence. Clare introduced Peter Duggan for the named Darach Honan on the programme. Duggan had been impressive in Clare’s recent win over Limerick at U21 level but he didn’t operate on the fringe of the square as expected, instead he played out in the half forward line. But huge credit must go to his marker, Damien Cahalane, who will be well pleased with his determined and committed display.
Clare left Conor McGrath inside on his own in a similar tactic to the one they employed in the All-Ireland final replay last year. Here he was man-marked by Stephen McDonnell, who was very impressive against Waterford last week and who carried this form into yesterday’s game, winning this duel and impressively building attacks from the back.
Cork’s defence was quick to tackle, played as a unit and limited the effectiveness of Tony Kelly and Podge Collins, Clare’s top two danger men last season.
Last season Clare’s midfield, supplemented by half forwards dropping deep, had a huge influence on their All-Ireland run. Yesterday Clare captain Pat Donnellan and his partner Colm Galvin were both replaced. They came up against the superb Daniel Kearney who gave a tour de force in the middle, ably supported by the high fielding, athletic Aidan Walsh.
Their workrate, composure and link play, so important in the modern game, was first rate. Kearney was everywhere — tackling, supporting and moving the ball intelligently as well as chipping in with a point in the first half and two beauties in a 60 second spell in the second half.
Once Cork drew level by the 15th minute Clare’s indiscipline enabled Patrick Horgan to keep the scoreboard ticking over in that crucial first period and he punished Clare’s indiscretions unerringly, knocking over 11 points.
Cork’s application and commitment was greater than Clare’s who looked a little off the boil and the eight week break since their last competitive outing didn’t help their cause.
I was impressed by the movement and energy of the Cork forwards and they were willing to harry their opponents making it difficult for Clare to deliver quality ball to their forwards.
Jimmy Barry-Murphy and his management team will be satisfied with a job well done and with the possession game they used to good effect last week and particularly yesterday.
It wasn’t a perfect display and Cork will have plenty of re-runs of the DVD highlighting the concession of two soft goals.
They also hit six wides in the last 15 minutes when working the ball forward might have generated further scores.
Clare played well in the closing stages and caused Cork some problems.
All in all a good day at the office for Cork with plenty to enthuse about and enough in the deficit column to work on before the Munster final meeting with Limerick next month.
