Classy Cork prove too hot for Clare to handle

Cork 0-15 Clare 0-12

Clare were made to pay a heavy price for wasting some gilt-edge chances, particularly in the first half. A combination of poor finishing they had 13 wides over the hour and an

excellent Cork defence, cost them dearly. Judgement is reserved on Cork as tougher opposition lies ahead, but Eoin O'Sullivan, Niall Horgan, Shane O'Neill, Michael Aherne, Mark Harrington, Aisake Ó hAlpín and Brian Canty were outstanding. Both defences were on top and the good-sized crowd had to wait until the 13th minute for the opening score, a Maurice O'Sullivan point from a 30-metre free.

That score settled Cork and with Aherne excellent at centre-back and Mark Harrington and Donogh Lucey giving them a grip at midfield, O'Sullivan added a second point in the 17th minute.

While Cork were doing the scoring from limited possession, Clare continued to dictate matters, particularly in defence, but they had to wait until the 20th minute to get on the scoreboard when Cathal Laferty pointed a free from midfield. Cork had Clare in trouble when they ran at them and at it earned them two frees which Maurice O'Sullivan pointed to give his side a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 28 minutes.

Clare improved in the closing minutes of the first half and points by Martin O'Hanlon and Danny O'Hallorhan left Cork 0-5 to 0-3 in front at half time.

Cork got off to a flying start on the resumption, hitting over three points in a row. The best of which was won by Mark Harrington and in the space of four minutes they had stretched their lead to 0-8 to 0-3.

And it got better as the Leesiders

began to find their rhythm. Ó hAlpín was inches from a goal when his effort hit the crossbar before going over and a rampant Cork side added four more points to stretch their lead to seven by the end of the third quarter.

The Leesiders were totally in control with Mark Harrington and Shane O'Neill impressive. Scorers for Cork: M O'Sullivan 0-6 (frees), M Harrington, A Ó hAilpín 0-3 each, B Canty 0-2,

D Lucy 0-1. Clare: C Laferty (free), M O'Hanlon,

D O'Hallorhan, T Kierse, N Dunne 0-1 each.

CORK: K Barry; E O'Sullivan, N Horgan, M Foley; S O'Neill, M Ahearne, B Clifford; D Lucey, M Harrington; B Barry, B Coleman, M Allen; M O'Sullivan, A Ó hAilpín, B Canty. Sub: P Cronin for Canty.

CLARE: C Devitt; M Liddane, E Collins, B Guinnane; B Bugler, M Hawes, A Kilmartin; M O'Hanlon, P Donnellan; N McNamara, C Laferty, A Brigdale; D O'Halloran, T Kierse, N Dunne. Subs: J Clancy for Donnellan, J McInerney for Guinnane, B Gaffney for Kierse, S O'Brien for Brigdale.

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).