Cleary: 'We'd be happy enough with it, even if we weren't that happy with the opening 40 minutes'

TURNING POINT: Cork’s John Cleary on the sideline during the McGrath Cub Clare V Cork match at Clarecastle on Wednesday evening. Picture : Eamon Ward

Cork played into the wind and rain in the opening half. Both were relentless and strengthening.

In that instance, and given the date on the freshly pinned calendar read January 3, Cork manager John Cleary wanted nothing more from his players than to dig in and hold on. Make sure they got back to the dressing-room with a realistic target to try and hunt down.