Clare target rare title but Rebels will be favourites

CLARE bid for a rare football title when they face Cork in tonight’s Munster JFC decider at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick (7.45pm)

The Banner County last won this grade in 1925 — ironically beating Cork who have won the last four finals against the Banner.

Cork were beaten in last year’s final by Kerry, while Clare’s last final appearance was in 1999 when Waterford beat them by two points.

The Leesiders struggled to beat Limerick in their opening game — the sides were level five times before Cork emerged with a one point win. Despite failing to impress, they had six points to spare in their semi-final win over Tipperary.

Two of the All-Ireland winning U-21 team, Fiachra Lynch and captain Andrew O’Sullivan are on the starting 15 and, according to coach Mossie Barrett: “If we get a good start and play to our potential, we’ll be hard to beat. No disrespect to the other teams but we expected to reach the final. We take this grade very seriously and do our homework on our opponents.

“It hasn’t surprised us that Clare are also in the decider. They made it very hard for us last year in the semi-final which we won by a point. In our two earlier rounds we lost our concentration after building up comfortable leads and allowed the opposition back into the games. We cannot afford that to happen tonight, otherwise we’ll be punished.”

Clare defeated Munster and All-Ireland champions Kerry, who had to field a complete new team, in the semi-final, mainly due to the excellent free-taking of David Tubridy, who scored all but one of his side’s eight points, five from placed balls.

Unlike Cork, Clare can pick from senior clubs which gives them a bigger choice, but even allowing for that, the Leesiders will start favourites to regain a title they last won in 2005.

CLARE: D. McInerney (Ennistymon); T. Madigan (Shannon Gaels), P. O’Connor (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), B. Moloney (do.); D. Callinan (do.), G. Tubridy (Cooraclare), G. Kelly (Milltown); N. Kennedy (Shannon Gaels), S. Meade (Milltown); D. Lynch (Lissycasey), A. Cloghessy (Liscannor), S. Moloney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); D. Tubridy (Doonbeg), S. Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), M. Liddane (Naomh Eoin).

CORK: K. Murphy (Boherbue); B. Gogan (Adrigole), E. Wiseman (Castletownbere), D. O’Riordan (Kanturk); P. Kissane (Clyda Rovers), D. Wiseman (CTB), M. Feehily (Ó Mathunas); A. O’Connor (St. Colums), S. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriffe); F. Lynch (Valley Rovers), V. Hurley (Courcey Rovers), A. O’Sullivan (CTB); P. Cahill (Glenville), N. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriffe), P. Dunlea (Canovee).