Cloonan on fire as Athenry squeeze past Cork

Athenry 2-22 Cork 4-15

The game was a personal triumph for Eugene Cloonan who finished with 2-12 and his form won't go unnoticed by county manager Conor Hayes.

It also marked the return to competitive hurling of Shane Donoghue who had a six-months suspension reduced to three, strengthening Athenry's bid for glory on St Patrick's Day.

The form of Paul Hardiman, Brian Feeney, MJ Quinn and Liam Hanley will have pleased team coach David Caulfield who expressed his delight at having got an excellent challenge game with no injuries.

Cork started with only two of their All-Ireland winning team, John Browne and Ronan Curran, and while a number of the newcomers did well, Athenry's greater fitness proved decisive.

Graham Callanan did his chances of a first-team inclusion no harm with an excellent display at wing back from where he contributed three excellent points. Jonathan O'Callaghan also had a good outing at wing back scoring 1-5, while Neil Ronan started well but his lack of fitness saw him eventually replaced.

The principal difference between the sides however, was Cloonan who scored freely both from play and frees. The sides were level four times in the opening quarter before Cork went on a scoring spree which yielded three goals and a 3-6 to 0-6 lead after 25 minutes.

Kieran Murphy began the goal rush with a scrambled effort, Michael Byrne brushed past a couple of defenders before blasting home another and when O'Callaghan finished Peer Kelly's long delivery to the net for a third, Athenry's long journey looked to be in vain.

However, Eugene Cloonan superb accuracy kept his side in touch and at the break, Cork led 3-7 to 0-12. Cloonan claimed all but two of those for the visitors.

Athenry upped the tempo on the changeover and only a brave save by Cork keeper Paul Morrissey denied Cloonan a goal. Seven minutes into the second half the Galway were level with a succession of points before Cork moved Pat Mulcahy to try and contain Cloonan.

It mattered little as the danger man continued to score at will and he showed his class with a cracking goal from a 20-metre free which helped his side to a five-point lead by the end of the third quarter.

Cork introduced Joe Deane for the last 15 minutes which improved their attack, and after Jonathan O'Callaghan landed three points in a row, Deane flicked home a goal after the Athenry keeper failed to hold Kieran Murphy's long range free.

However, the Connacht champions had enough in the tank to hold on for a deserved victory which should stand them in good stead for their All-Ireland semi-final against the Munster champions.

Scorers Athenry: D. Cloonan 2-12 (0-5 frees); D. Donoghue, MJ Quinn, J. Rabbitte 0-2 each; S. Donoghue, D. Burns, B. Feeney, B. Higgins 0-1 each. Cork: J., O'Callaghan 1-5 (0-2 frees); J. Deane 1-1; K. Murphy 1-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 65); M. Byrne 1-0; G. Callanan 0-3; N. Ronan, G. McCarthy 0-2 each

ATHENRY: M. Cremmins; T. Kelly, P. Hardiman, J. Feeney; B. Higgins, B. Feeney, S. Donoghue; B. Hanley, L. Howley; J. Rabbitte, MJ Quinn, E. Caulfield; D. Burns, E. Cloonan, D. Donoghue. Subs. C. O'Donovan for Higgins; M. Donnellan for Burns; A. Poniard for Rabbitte; D. Higgins for D. Donoghue.

CORK: P. Morrissey; S. Murphy. J. Browne, P. Mulcahy; G. Callanan, R. Curran, P. Kelly; K. Murphy, M. Prendergast; G. McCarthy, M. Byrne, J. O'Callaghan; F. Murphy, J. Bowles, N. Ronan. Subs. T. McCarthy for Prendergast; J. Deane for Byrne; JP King for Ronan.

Referee, D. Copps (Ballyhea).