Ó hAilpín goal spurs Cork

Cork 2-12

Yesterday, he displayed his talents with the county hurlers, did his walk-on-water routine, and ensured that the Leesiders remain firmly on course for a place in the Allianz NHL final.

Introduced late in the first half of this disappointing clash, Ó hAilpín scored one goal and created another for Alan Browne as Cork recorded a deserved victory, in difficult conditions.

Donal O'Grady was clearly the happier of the managers, but was a little concerned at the failure of his charges to turn possession into scores.

"Overall I was happy enough with the commitment the lads showed and particularly with the way they fought back after Clare scored their first goal.

"They got no time to build on that score as we hit back almost immediately with Setanta's goal. As I keep on saying, we are looking for effort and commitment and got that in abundance from the lads out there today.

"Conditions were not to our liking but it was the same for both teams. The victory keeps our interest going and the more competitive games we get the better for everybody."

Defensively Cork were very solid. Again Wayne Sherlock was easily the best of the backs, but Pat Mulcahy and Ronan Curran did well as did Diarmuid O'Sullivan at left half-back.

Midfield continued to be problematic although Paul Tierney hit a lot of ball in the course of the hour.

In attack Niall McCarthy made life difficult for Seanie McMahon at times. Ben O'Connor was his usual efficient self, while Alan Browne and Joe Deane impressed in phases.

Seanie McGrath seemed to have the freedom of the park at times and had his finish matched his approach work, he could have finished up with at least two goals but it was not to be.

Clare coach Cyril Lyons was very disappointed, not so much at the result but at a number of poor performances.

"Overall it wasn't a great game of hurling. Cork were worthy winners and our late scores only served to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard as far as we were concerned.

"This defeat is our third in a row which means effectively our league chances are gone. Our biggest problem at the moment is that a lot of our players are struggling to find their form.

"Lads who have always been consistently good for Clare are not going well and they have only five weeks to the championship game with Tipperary to find it.

"It was more honest effort than good hurling which kept us in that game today. Clearly our focus is on the Tipp championship match, but you always like to win league games as the are good for team morale.

"If these games show up where we are deficient well you go back and try and rectify them. There is still a lot of work to be done ahead of May 18 and that date with Tipp in Cork."

Cork had wind advantage in the first half and, with Ronan Curran solid at centre-back, created a couple of easy goal chances which weren't taken.

At the other end only Niall Gilligan posed any threat for Clare who trailed by two at the break (0-6 to 0-4) and turning to play with the elements.

However, it was Cork who upped the ante on the change-over and Ben O'Connor brought the best out of Davy Fitzgerald who denied Joe Deane seconds later with another good save.

Clare hit the front for the first and only time in the game in the 43rd minute when Tony Carmody kicked home a goal, but the cheering had hardly died when Ó hAilpín struck at the other end after Allstar Fitzgerald again had denied Ben O'Connor with another magnificent save.

With Diarmuid O'Sullivan beginning to make a big impression at wing back, Cork took complete control and after a succession of points, Alan Browne collected Ó hAilpín's pinpoint pass in his stride, held of a couple of tackles before billowing the net.

Two excellent points by Ben O'Connor had the visitors eight to the good with three minutes to go, but in the closing minutes Cork appeared to take their foot off the pedal. Eamon Taffe poached a goal before Niall Gilligan blazed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Scorers Cork: B. O'Connor 0-5 (0-3 frees); N. McCarthy, J. Deane (0-2 frees) 0-3 reach; S. Ó hAilpín, A. Browne 1-0 each; S. McGrath 0-1. Clare: N. Gilligan 0-5 (0-1 free); E. Taffe 1-1; T. Carmody 1-0; C. Lynch, B.

Murphy, T. Griffin 0-1 each.

CORK:. D. Cusack; W. Sherlock, P. Mulcahy, M. Fitzgerald; D. O'Sullivan, R. Curran, T. Kenny; P. Tierney, J. Barrett; S. McGrath, N. McCarthy, B.

O'Connor; E. Fitzgerald, J. Deane, A. Browne. Subs. S. Ó hAilpín for Fitzgerald; J. Gardiner for Barrett; B. Murphy for O'Sullivan.

CLARE: D. Fitzgerald; B. Quinn, B. Lohan, F. Lohan; C. Plunkett, S. McMahon, D. Hoey; C. Lynch, G. Quinn; T. Griffin, A. Markham, J. O'Connor; N. Gilligan, T. Carmody, D. O'Connell. Subs. B. Murphy for O'Connell; F. Lynch for O'Connor; E. Taffe for Carmody.

Referee: A. MacSuibhne (Dublin).