Cork-Clare player ratings: Barrett, Kingston catch the eye for Rebels, Ryan best for Banner
LIKE A TRAIN: Cork speedster Shane Barrett gets away from Rory Hayes of Clare in Sunday's Munster SHC Rd 5 clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Vital first-half stop from Ian Galvin which would have given Clare a platform. Very assured around the square and great puck-out variety.
Shaky opening 15 minutes, with Galvin breaking away for two goal chances. Settled from there and got completely on top of Galvin, who was taken off scoreless from play.
Had his hands full with Peter Duggan early doors, giving up a couple of frees, but very steady overall, breaking plenty of high deliveries and tidy in possession.
As expected, tagged Shane O’Donnell. Stuck to that task very well. Cork’s most consistent performer across the four group games.
Best game of the season. Scored a point, was fouled for a free and sideline set up the goal in the first half. Didn’t give Seán Rynne an inch. Came up to test the keeper in the second half and forced another converted free.
Completely shut down young gun Diarmuid Stritch. Was guilty of coughing up a silly free after brilliantly mopping up a ball but his only error. Withdrawn to a rousing reception with the game won. .
Tasked with racing back onto the breaks from the full-back line in the first half but also kept David Fitzgerald fairly quiet. More prominent on the ball in the second period, with a couple of lovely assists.
: Another strong midfield showing, doing all the simple things well and covering a lot of ground.
: Restored to midfield and man-marking Tony Kelly, who didn’t get a clean run at goal until O’Mahony came off.
Brilliant movement from wing to wing, huge possession count and some excellent long balls in. Couple of first-half wides but then curled over a gem late on.
Started like a train, scoring three early points and twice threatening for a goal. His directness meant John Conlon couldn’t sweep as he had in Thurles. Finished as official man of the match with 0-5 and three assists.
Still learning and improving but his pace and confidence are serious assets. Landed two excellent points.
Energetic from the throw-in. His ability to find space and touch make him hard to handle. Had two points and a goal assist in the first half, finished with 0-4.
Another fine game. Picked up by Adam Hogan but still arrowed 0-3 from play and was fouled for two of his eight frees. .
Overdue a goal and took it with aplomb before half-time. Taken off after 45 minutes with 1-2 to his name. Job done.
Rewarded for his training ground form and league showings with Douglas. Hit three fantastic points.
: Steady out replacing Cahalane ; Full of energy in place of O’Mahony. Won a free after coming on for Walsh. : Effective in the half-back line when Downey came off.
Puckouts were primarily short when Clare were in the game, and generally didn’t go far wrong. Made a good save from Eoin Downey but could do little when Cork were so dominant.
Did relatively well given how much the Clare defence struggled all evening. Handled Alan Connolly well in the first half, but the Blackrock forward grew into it in the second.
Struggled all throughout to deal with Brian Hayes. A wobbly start that neither he nor Clare recovered from.
Torched early on by William Buckley, and his last involvement was to be see possession taken from him by Buckley, before the Cork forward slotted over. Departed there with an injury.
: By far the best of Clare’s starters. Made himself a nuisance at every opportunity and thundered forward for three good points, but the Banner lacked punch elsewhere.
A far cry from his heroics last time out against Tipp. Up against a lively Shane Barrett playing some of his best stuff and struggled to cope. Was eventually taken off after 42 minutes.
Decent performance. Didn’t do much wrong in the first half and was the only Clare back not to see his man score at that stage, though Healy had been floating around quite a bit. Was booked in the second half.
Four wides from play, and only one point from play. Certainly far from Kelly’s best. Struggled to influence the game and though his frees kept the Banner tipping over, there was only going to be one winner.
Struggled massively in the middle third where Cork again had the upper hand. Was pulled off in the 57th minute.
Has been in electric form this summer but that success was nowhere to be found here. Two wides, no scores.
Battled hard for Clare but just not his day. Only managed one shot that drifted wide, as Robert Downey made a convincing return from injury.
Struggled throughout. Two wides and one short, and wasn’t sharp enough in possession when he did gather control.
Started so brightly with two goal chances he was unfortunate not to put away. Looked to have the upper hand on Sean O’Donoghue but quickly faded, and finished scoreless.
Didn’t manage a shot all game. His physical threat was always there but the Cork full-back line coped. Not Duggan’s day. .
Did well to set up Ian Galvin for his first goal chance and provided flashes of the quality we’ve grown so used to O’Donnell producing, but could only manage one point.
Substitutes: Early change after Lohan went off injured and given how electric Buckley was, dealt with his danger well, but slipped for the Cork goal which killed Clare’s competitiveness. ; : Came on early as a temp sub and returned in the 57th minute, without impacting the game too much. Took his point well and was lively late when Clare started to land scores. 6; Struggled to impact the game. Excellent off the bench with 1-1 and was fouled for two frees.
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