A cruise for Clyda as they power into final

Clyda Rovers (Cork) 0-15 Ballyporeen (Tipperary) 1-4

Building from a foundation of general dominance around midfield, Clyda used their short passing to good effect and enjoyed long passages of possession.

The presence of 10 separate names on the scoresheet is testament to the hard graft and teamwork which has become a hallmark of the Cork intermediate champions and they were good value for the eight-point gap at the end.

Ballyporeen had previously bridged a nine-point deficit in the previous round before downing De La Salle in a replay but they never looked like getting back on terms with Clyda this time around. Their main threat, Conor Sweeney, was subdued in the middle in the first half and while he upped the tempo after the break and finished with 1-3, it wasn’t enough.

Rovers raced to a 0-7 to 0-0 lead inside 22 minutes and the teams were never closer than five points for the rest of the game.

Daniel O’Callaghan dominated midfield, often breaking the ball to the half-forwards who were able to keep attacks going with hand passing before releasing the inside forwards or whoever happened to be pressing forward, to finish off their chances.

Ballyporeen’s sole first half response was a Shane Molan point while Conor Sweeney hit the woodwork with his best chance.

After the break, Rovers had 10 points on the board before Sweeney converted a penalty to give Ballyporeen some hope but after a Eoin Kearney disallowed “goal”, those hopes faded. Clyda finished strongest with closing points by Paudie Kissane and Colin Ronayne for insurance.

Scorers for Clyda Rovers: J Murphy (0-4, 2fs), Conor O’Sullivan, Cian O’Sullivan (0-2 each), S Ronayne, D O’Callaghan, C Flanagan, P Kissane, C Ronayne, C Buckley, F O’Shea (0-1 each).

Scorers for Ballyporeen: C Sweeney (1-3, 1pen, 2fs), S Molan (0-1).

CLYDA ROVERS: C Conway; N O’Mullane, R Carey, C Kenny; C Buckley, F O’Shea, S Ronayne; D O’Callaghan, C Flanagan; Conor O’Sullivan, P Kissane, G Carey; J Murphy, J O’Hanlon, Cian O’Sullivan. Subs: P Mullane for J O’Hanlon, S O’Connell for G Carey, D Roche for C Flanagan, C Ronayne for J Murphy, R Willis for S Ronayne.

BALLYPOREEN: J English; S O’Callaghan, B Breedy, R O’Callaghan; S Molan, W English, E Morrissey; J O’Callaghan, C Sweeney; J Martin, E Kearney, D Lyons; P Fitzgerald, T Sweeney, D Barrett. Subs: A Crotty for S Molan, S Lynch for S O’Callaghan, N Barrett for D Barrett, F Martin for E Kearney.

Ref: Seán Joy (Kerry).