Cork v Clare: who'll show they are second-best team in Munster?

A dubious honour, but the Banner have proven over recent years that they'll go toe to two with the Rebels. Can John Cleary buck a trend this weekend?

MASTERMIND: Clare manager Colm Collins who has been a steady precence. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Going into what proved to be Ciarán Sheehan’s last game for his county, Cork headed to Ennis with one primary goal in mind: simply win the game. Didn’t matter in that peculiar summer of 2021 with its truncated league stretching into June that Cork would have to beat the home side by at least three points to ensure a promotion semi-final spot; a one-point victory would be hard enough to attain in Cusack Park without worrying about various calculations and permutations.

As it transpired, Cork, despite losing Sheehan to injury after only 20 minutes, did get their win but Clare ended up being the day’s true winners. Although a late effort from John O’Rourke saw to it that Cork shot an impressive 22 points, Clare had racked up 1-18 of their own. With Kildare having easily disposed of Laois in Portlaoise, it left Cork losing out on a promotion play-off on scoring difference.