Clare's stunning second half comeback denies 14-man Cork in pulsating draw

A late Declan Dalton free rescued a point for Cork after they had led by 12 points at the break. 

Brian Hayes was superb for Cork in their Munster SHC draw with Clare, scoring 2-2. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster SHC: Clare 3-21 Cork 2-24

The one that got away from Cork and yet they were the ones grateful for a share of the spoils at the end.

Declan Dalton’s free for a foul on Ciarán Joyce ensured a team that led by 12 points at half-time, 2-15 to 0-9, came away from Ennis with something.

In a way, it was like 12 months against Limerick but in reverse as Clare transformed themselves with three second-half goals after an awful first half. Shane Barrett’s red card also played a part but Cork had been eight points ahead with two minutes of normal time to go.

Clare were made to wait for Cork to re-enter the field for the second half but any hope it would cool the home side was in vain. Aidan McCarthy posted Clare’s opening goal seconds into the new half courtesy of a Mark Rodgers pass.

After Tony Kelly launched a long-range free, Clare were celebrating another green flag in the 41st minute. Peter Duggan broke down a Kelly delivery from distance and David Reidy showed the composure to finish the move.

A backlash would have been anticipated but on their laurels Cork had rested albeit temporarily. They scored the next three points to offset some of the pain and the margin was 10 points in the 57th minute when Barrett was sent to the line for a high challenge on Reidy.

The difference was eight when Clare rose again. Either side of converted free, Duggan showed his exquisite aerial ability to bring down a ball and finish for a goal in the penultimate minute of normal time.

Clare were down by three going into additional time but their deficit had evaporated and replaced by a lead when David Reidy, his side’s fourth free-taker, punished a foul on Aron Shanagher. Yet there was still time for Dalton to cancel it out.

Cork were excellent in the first half but Clare mustered just one point from play in the opening 33 minutes. Before that they had struck six wides and Duggan forced a good save from Patrick Collins.

The Cork goalkeeper, though, was hardly as troubled as his counterpart Eibhear Quilligan. Twice, he had to pick the ball out from behind him courtesy of Brian Hayes, the first goal coming in the 13th minute. Hayes rounded Darragh Lohan and batted to the net.

That score sent Cork five points ahead and it would have stretched to eight in the 18th minute had Quilligan not been alert for Alan Connolly’s strike at goal. Another opening for Cork came in the 23rd minute as Darragh Fitzgibbon disguised a point attempt, passed to Barrett whose drive fizzed wide.

Cork’s incisiveness and all-round zip was in sharp contrast to the slackness exhibited by the All-Ireland champions who if they felt like they were disrespected by the predictions beforehand certainly didn’t demonstrate it in the opening half.

A second goal did come the way of Pat Ryan’s side in the 26th minute. Connolly took off away from Adam Hogan and squared a hand-pass to Hayes to finish and send Cork nine points clear.

Cork attached a string of three points to hit Clare for an unanswered salvo of 1-5 before a McCarthy free stopped the bleed. The score pattern was tit-for-tat for the remainder of the half but it was the only area in which Clare enjoyed parity. By the conclusion, they had it on the scoreboard and could have had more.

Scorers for Clare: A. McCarthy (1-7, 0-6 frees); T. Kelly (0-5, 2 frees); P. Duggan (1-1); D. Reidy (1-2, 0-2 frees); M. Rodgers (frees), I. Galvin (0-2 each): D. Fitzgerald, C. Malone (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: P. Horgan (0-9, 6 frees, 1 65); B. Hayes (2-2); D. Fitzgibbon, A. Connolly (0-3 each); S. Barrett, T. O’Mahony (0-2 each); S. Harnedy, B. Roche, D. Dalton (free) (0-1 each).

CLARE: E. Quilligan; C. Leen, D. Lohan, A. Hogan; D. Ryan, J. Conlon, D. McInerney; C. Malone, R. Taylor; T. Kelly (c), D. Reidy, D. Fitzgerald; A. McCarthy, P. Duggan, M Rodgers.

Subs for Clare: C. Galvin for D. Ryan (inj 16); I. Galvin for A. McCarthy (60); A. Shanagher for M. Rodgers (68).

CORK: P. Collins; N. O’Leary, E. Downey, S. O’Donoghue; C. Joyce, R. Downey (c), M. Coleman; T. O’Mahony, E. Twomey; S. Barrett, D. Fitzgibbon, S. Harnedy; A. Connolly, B. Hayes, P. Horgan.

Subs for Cork: G. Millerick for R. Downey (inj 45); D. Dalton for S. Harnedy (48); B. Roche for E. Twomey (55); S. Kingston for P. Horgan (60); D. Healy for A. Connolly (65).

Red card: S. Barrett (straight, 57).

Referee: L. Gordon (Galway).