Top man Gardiner admits Clare created nightmare scenario for Cork

MAN of the match, John Gardiner admitted last night that Cork came face to face with their nightmare scenario at Croke Park.

"Clare were coming at us like a pack of hungry wolves. They were threatening to overwhelm us and we really had to summon up all the reserves of survival," the Na Piarsaigh star said.

"We expected Clare to come at us hammer and tongs, but it wasn't until we began to create space for ourselves up front in the closing quarter that the tide turned in our favour."