Work rate and pressure the key for Cork against Clare

As Jimmy Barry Murphy and his management team prepare for Sunday week’s All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Galway, they will have plenty to ponder after a victory against the odds over Clare in Thurles on Saturday evening.

Cork won only 45 percent of the puck-outs on the day, 47 percent of possession and shot a tally of 20 wides. These were the negatives for Cork, but the overall game stats tell a more encouraging story.

Cork’s work rate was supreme. Despite a deficit of possession and primary possession from puck-outs, they made up for this with a superb collective tackle count of 74, 19 more than Clare on the day.