Player ratings: How Clare and Cork players performed in the All-Ireland hurling final
Tony Kelly of Clare celebrates at the final whistle. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
: His long, low lasered pass to David Fitzgerald for a 23rd minute point was worth the ticket fee. Couldn't have done much about Robert Downey's remarkable goal. Got 26 of his 37 puck-outs away successfully in normal time. Outstanding save from Robbie O'Flynn in the 86th minute.
: Stood up manfully when things were going against Clare. Marked Brian Hayes and blocked him superbly in the 20th minute as the game turned Clare's way. Forced Patrick Horgan into an overcarry before half-time. Eventually went off clutching his right shoulder. Â
: Tracked Alan Connolly. Did superbly to deny the goal-poacher another three-pointer in the 54th minute. Picked up Jack O'Connor when he replaced Connolly and finished up on Patrick Horgan in extra-time.
: Handed the task of shackling Patrick Horgan. Lasted the duration and was terrific. Finished up on Jack O'Connor and got through so much good work. Perhaps lucky not to give away a free for a jersey tug on Robbie O'Flynn at the death.
: Went head-to-head with Seamus Harnedy initially. Ryan scored two brilliant first-half points - as did Harnedy. Fetched brilliantly for a Mark Rodgers point in the 31st minute. Won a 65 that was pointed. Hit a crucial late score in normal time and finished with 0-3.
: A traditional battle initially between the number six and Cork's number 11, Shane Barrett. Held the centre and got on top after conceding an early Barrett point. Finished up marking Darragh Fitzgibbon.
: Lined up on Declan Dalton and put in a great shift. Dalton's possession count was minimal and McInerney walked away from that one the winner.
: Clare's Mr Dependable was asked to sit on Darragh Fitzgibbon, the second favourite for the Player of the Year award beforehand. A huge task but he broke at least even.
: Paired off with Tim O'Mahony at midfield. Set up an early Diarmuid Ryan point but didn't reach into his magic box until later on. The Ballyea wizard finished with 1-4, a haul that included a stunning goal, a breathtaking point late in normal time and three more in extra-time. Captain fantastic.
: Will have nightmares about the goal concession. Lost the aerial battle with Robert Downey for that one and the subsequent sprint. Moved to full-forward for the second half, where he was marked by Eoin Downey, and immediately scored. Curled over a sideline cut too.Â
The key reason why Clare were able to haul themselves back after the terrible start. Created the goal and followed up with two points himself. Shot tamely at goal later in the half. Started the second-half inside where Sean O'Donoghue was waiting. Taken off with an apparent injury.
: Wore number eight but played at wing-forward, to accommodate Tony Kelly at midfield. Sniped 0-3 but mixed the good with the bad, registering six wides, including a couple of howlers. Had an extra-time goal chance blocked too.
Wore number 11 but started close to goal with Cork captain Sean O'Donoghue trailing him. Struck 1-3 including a terrific goal and linked things up well. Came off in stoppage time with an injury.
: Had Eoin Downey on his shoulder to begin with. Still struck 1-4 - 1-2 of which came from play - and finished well for Clare's opening goal. But was hauled ashore after 55 minutes to allow for Ryan Taylor's introduction. Returned for extra-time and was exceptional, adding three crucial points.
: Fed Mark Rodgers for the opening score and was involved in a couple of significant plays, hitting two points also. Taken off just before the hour mark.
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(for McCarthy, 55): Perhaps felt unfortunate not to start given his semi-final display. Came on and scored a point. Â
(for Reidy, 59): Hit the first score of extra-time. Then won a free that Aidan McCarthy converted.
(for Duggan, 66): Coughed up a possession when a point was on. Conceded two crucial frees late in normal time, allowing Cork to pinch the equaliser. Better in extra-time.
(for Cleary, 71): Tracked Brian Hayes in extra-time and kept him scoreless.
(for Rodgers 73) Not on long enough to be ratedÂ
(for Mounsey e/t)Â
(for Ryan, 80) Â
(for O'Donnell, 80) A key figure in the final 10 minutes or so. Hit the game's last point. Â
(for Malone, 86)
There were 33 minutes played before one of his long puck-outs eventually stuck. Collins’ first 13 sent long were lost. Even off second ball from short restarts, Cork could not retain possession in the opening half. Even so, should Collins have gone short more often and let his teammates try work through the lines. Clare mined 0-7 off the Cork puck-out in the opening half. Might he have stopped Rodgers' goal? Fantastic save to deny Kelly in extra-time.
Struggled on Aidan McCarthy in the opening half, at the end of which McCarthy had 1-4 totted (1-2 from play). O’Leary charged forward in one instance, as he had done in the semi-final. His point attempt, though, was hooked. Fared much better on David Reidy.
Alert to snap up possession and clear danger when a Tony Kelly first-half point attempt hit post. Half-blocked a Diarmuid Ryan goal chance on 29 minutes. Against that, he overcarried for a converted free and was lucky a loose pass was also not punished. What a battle with Duggan in second-half. The full-back threw over a point, won a free off Aron Shanagher that ended in a white flag, and dispossessed him another time.
Picked up Shane O’Donnell when the hurler of the year favourite moved inside. Poor clearance led to O’Donnell opening half point. He did apply sufficient pressure to prevent an opening half O’Donnell goal. Fell victim to Tony Kelly’s genius for Kelly’s goal. Mark Rodgers had him scrambling when he came into the captain’s corner.
Outstanding in first period of extra-time. Stopped David Fitzgerald goal chance, picked off a point, and won a free Hoggie missed. Before that, and with Shane O’Donnell starting on the 45, rather than 20-metre line, Joyce found himself picking up the main opposition threat maybe earlier than he had bargained for. For the time spent together, it was not a duel he won. Rodgers took him for 1-1 in the second period. Â
In the semi-final, we saw him drive forward for a white flag. Here, we watched - jaws on the floor - as he drove forward and produce one of the great All-Ireland final goals. Was fouled for the converted 73rd minute free that brought Cork level. Â
Was far too loose on David Fitzgerald at times in the second half. It was a looseness that would have been far more costly but for Fitzgerald's desperately erratic shooting. Coleman came very good at just the right time. On 69 minutes, he came away with a Clare puck-out and pointed. He also won the ensuing puck-out. Brought his tally to 0-3 in extra-time. Covered so well behind half-back line in extra-time.
Cork’s final bolter. Cork’s best performer? Had three points from play hit and assisted for a fourth when the man he had kept so subdued - Tony Kelly - produced a goal for the ages. But while TK grew enormously into this final, O’Mahony did not immediately flag. He won the free almost on his own endline that ended with Hoggie’s injury-time equaliser. Â
Not his final. A turnover that ended in a Cork point, and his own injury-time score, represented his minimal first-half involvement. Moved to centre-forward thereafter. More involved from there, but not a significant improvement in his contribution. Hit two wides and was blocked by Conlon with a third point attempt.
Another for whom the afternoon was not kind or favourable to him. Assisted for Mark Coleman’s 14th minute point. Registered two wides and was first to be called ashore on 47 minutes.
Along with Fitzgibbon, Cork’s other hurler of the year contender fell far below what was required and expected. Had two points stitched inside 10 minutes. Forced a Conlon overcarry for a third via Hoggie. Poised to pick up where he left off after the semi-final. Instead, he drifted and disappeared. Subbed on 66 minutes, an unthinkable scenario before throw-in such was his form.
Another to the fore in Cork’s roaring start. And while his graph did not dip anything like Barrett’s, Diarmuid Ryan did shade this contest. Harnedy’s 0-4 was only one more than Ryan hit. The 34-year-old did assist for a fifth. Unable to take second half goal chance. Injury forced him off.
Has the title of all-time leading championship scorer, does not have his coveted All-Ireland medal. Converted the pressure frees at the end of the second half. From general play though, Conor Leen had his number. And were it not for that dead-ball proficiency, he would not have lasted the distance. Â
The category of Cork forwards not bringing earlier form into the concluding afternoon was packed. Connolly was firmly in that category. Meagre return of single white flag and assisted another. His goal charge on 53 minutes was halted, the play ending in a converted sideline cut. Second Cork forward pulled.
Caused the most trouble of the inside forwards. Along with his two points, was fouled and assisted for two more. Never threatened a green flag, mind. 7.5Â
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got on so much possession in the middle third when introduced. But while he was fouled for a converted second half free, he hit two extra-time wides and fouled Ian Galvin for a converted free. clipped a pair of white flags at the beginning of extra-time, but could not exert further influence thereafter.
will have been disappointed not to have secured parity for Cork in second half injury time. started so well when sprung. He pointed and he was fouled for a converted free. But his contribution will always be remembered for the saved goal chance and the wide ball in the second half of extra-time. won the free that brought this epic to extra-time. Committed the foul for an Aidan McCarthy converted free in second period of extra-time.
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