Cork ease past Banner

Cork 1-23 Clare 0-11

All-Ireland champions Cork got their Munster SFC campaign off to a winning start as they overcame Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.

With 15 points to spare at the end, Cork were always likely to win this game, proving far too strong for their visitors, who could not match the scoring power of the Rebels.

Featuring 11 of the team that began in the All-Ireland final win over Down last September, Cork showed no signs of having lost any hunger or appetite as they dealt clinically with their opponents, going at half-time leading by eight points and completing the job professionally after the break.

With the heavy rain that fell just before the national anthem having cleared as the game began, the opening nine minutes were the closest period of the game, as points from Clare’s Garry Brennan and Rory Donnelly cancelled out two from Cork’s Daniel Goulding.

The opening 10 minutes also saw three yellow cards, for Michael Shields and Pearse O’Neill of Cork and Clare’s Niall Browne, though thankfully this did not lead to a deluge as there were none for the remainder of the half despite a relatively high half-time free count of 11 for Cork and seven for the visitors.

Once Cork settled they soon moved through the gears, however, with strong running from the half-forward line providing plenty of scoring chances for Goulding and Donncha O’Connor inside.

In addition, Aidan Walsh’s athleticism at midfield was a massive boost and by the 18th minute Cork led 0-6 to 0-2 following a good Ciarán Sheehan effort after Walsh and Donncha O’Connor had done well.

Donnelly’s second briefly cut the gap but before too long Cork had found the net with a sparking move to bolster the lead. From a good Sheehan delivery, O’Connor broke the ball into the path of the on-running Patrick Kelly, and while he could have shot himself, he returned the favour to O’Connor, who palmed past Joe Hayes.

Further points from Goulding (two) and a booming Aidan Walsh effort made it 1-9 to 0-3, and it could have been even more, Goulding just wide with a curling effort after he won an O’Connor ball in, while the full-forward himself went close to a second, punching off the bar.

Nonetheless, the half-time advantage of 1-9 to 0-4, after Garry Brennan’s shot was tipped over the bar by Alan Quirke, was comfortable, but three in a row in the first three minutes of the second half from Clare’s Alan Clohessy, Donnelly and David Tubridy, meant there were just five points in it all of a sudden.

Two from O’Connor quelled any fears Cork may have had, however, and while they didn’t turn on the after-burners to run up a massive score, they didn’t need to.

Goulding added a few nice frees, while sub Paul Kerrigan and Michael Shields – who had moved to half-back line from full-back in a half-time swap with captain Graham Canty – also got in on the act.

The final 10 minutes were played out as little more than a keep-ball session for the champions, though right at the end there was some drama.

After Cork sub John Miskella and Clare’s Graham Kelly were involved in a scuffle in the 69th minute, Kelly reacted to his second booking from referee Eddie Kinsella by headbutting Miskella, who was also yellow-carded.

The situation was defused, however, and Cork march on, with Waterford their next assignment in the provincial semi-final.

CORK: A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields (0-1), J O’Sullivan; G Canty, N O’Leary, D O’Sullivan; A O’Connor (0-1), A Walsh (0-1); C Sheehan (0-4), P Kelly, P O’Neill (0-2); D Goulding (0-8, 0-6f), D O’Connor (1-4, 0-2f), D Goold.

Subs: P Kerrigan (0-1) for Goold (47), P Kissane for Shields, F Lynch for Kelly (62), N Murphy for Walsh (65), J Miskella (0-1) for O’Sullivan (66).

CLARE: Joe Hayes; K Hartnett, B Duggan, L Healy; John Hayes, G Kelly, M McMahon; N Browne, G Brennan (0-2); G Kelly, D Tubridy (0-3, 0-1f), C O’Connor; A Clohessy (0-1), D O’Neill, R Donnelly (0-5).

Subs: S Brennan for O’Connor, S McNeiles for John Hayes (both half-time), J Dowling for O’Neill (70).

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).