Deadly Dunlea fires Rebels past Banner

A POINT by Pat Dunlea a minute into injury time gave Cork a thrilling victory over Clare in the Munster JFC final at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick last night.

While Cork will be happy to win their 26th title, and set the weekend up for a possible treble of Munster titles, nobody would have begrudged Clare a second bite of the cherry.

The Banner County were chasing their first title in 82 years but were made to pay for their 10 wides as against five for the Leesiders.

While Dunlea will get all the plaudits for his massive contribution to his side’s tally — he scored seven points, including the winner — Cork owed much to their magnificent defence.

Enda Wiseman, Paudie Kissane and Barry Gogan was superb, denying the Clare forwards with timely interceptions, and bone-crunching tackles.

In a game where the teams were level six times, Clare contributed handsomely to a splendid contest.

David McInerney was outstanding in goal; Paul O’Connor was rock solid outside him; Ger Tubridy, Declan Callinan gave little away in the half-back line while in attack Michael Liddane and David Tubridy troubled the Cork defence all through.

Clare made the better start; had two wides in a minute, before Michael Liddane finished good approach work with a point a minute later.

A superb point from a sideline ball by Fiachra Lynch had Cork level by the fifth minute and after the sides exchanged points to be level a second time, the Leesiders began to take a firm grip.

The aerial dominance of Alan O’Connor and Seamus O’Sullivan gave them control at midfield, and with Barry Gogan powering forward from corner back, they kicked four points in a row, three by lively corner forward Pat Dunlea, to lead 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter.

However Clare adapted to the conditions and with Michael Liddane a threat at corner forward, they hit back with three unanswered points to tie the game for the third time, at 0-5 apiece, after 20 minutes.

Liddane was only inches away from a goal, before Pat Dunlea was denied a major by a superb one handed save by Clare ‘keeper David McInerney.

Dunlea and Vincent Hurley troubled the Clare defence with their slick inter-passing and both players added a point each before Clare finished strongly with a David Tubridy point to leave the game balanced at 0-9 to 0-7 in Cork’s favour.

The second half developed into a tremendous contest as Clare, realising they could match Cork, pegged them back to equality with two points in a row by David Tubridy before Liddane gave them the lead for only the second time in the match.

Clare went for the victory but left a lot of gaps which this experienced Cork side exploited.

Pat Dunlea showed composure to land the equalising point and as the tension mounted, he finished off a great movement with the lead point.

Clare refused to concede and David Tubridy worked himself into a scoring position to tie the game for the sixth time and a replay looked on.

However three extra minutes were added and in that time Pat Dunlea, whose father Johnny won a medal at this level back in 1964, became the hero when he landed the matching-winning score to delight the Cork following.

Scorers for Cork: P. Dunlea 0-7 (0-2 frees); F. Lynch 0-2; A. O’Sullivan, V. Hurley, N. O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Clare: D. Tubridy 0-6 (0-3 frees); M. Kiddane 0-3; M. Tubridy, S. Hickey 0-1 each.

CORK: K. Murphy; B. Gogan, E. Wiseman, D. O’Riordan; P. Kissane, D. Wiseman, M. Feehily; A. O’Connor, S. O’Sullivan; F. Lynch, V. Hurley, A. O’Sullivan; P. Cahill, N. O’Sullivan, P. Dunlea. Subs: C. Keane for Cahill; S. Brosnan for N. O’Sullivan; T. Twomey for F. Lynch.

CLARE: D. McInerney; T., Madigan, P. O’Connor, B. Moloney; D. Callinan, G. Tubridy, G. Kelly; N. Kennedy, S. Meade; D., Lynbch, A. Clohessy, S. Moloney; D. Tubridy, S. Hickey, M. Liddane. Subs: M. Tubridy for Madigan; B. Curtin for G. Kelly; E. Curtin for S. Hickey; K. King for S. Meade; K. Kelly for D. Lynch.

Referee: T. O’Sullivan (Waterford).