The Clare Senior Hurlers have maintained their 100% start to their Munster Senior Hurling Championship campaign after a hard fought victory over Cork in Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Robin Mounsey got the Banner county off the mark with Clare’s first attack , which was cancelled out on the restart from Cork’s wing forward Robbie O’Flynn.
The sides then exchanged points through Shane Kingston and Peter Duggan until Clare found another gear and dominated proceedings for the remainder off the half.
Strong defensive efforts from Rory Hayes and Diarmuid Ryan along with tigerish displays in the middle of the field from David Fitzgerald and Cathal Malone who both contributed scores allowed Clare’s attack the perfect spring board to flourish as Shane O’Donnell , Ryan Taylor ,Tony Kelly and Peter Duggan kept the scoreboard firmly ticking over.
Clare went into the interval with a 17 points to 11 advantage which undoubtedly would have been a closer gap only for a brilliant Eibhear Qulligan save from a close range Patrick Horgan strike before the break.
Clare appeared to come out of the blocks the fresher of the sides in the second half with David Fitzgerald pointing from the throw in, followed by an Ian Galvin score however Galvin would be dismissed 12 minutes into the second period coinciding perfectly with an Alan Connolly goal for the Rebels.
Patrick Horgan continued to keep Cork in touch from placed balls whilst man of the match Tony Kelly ensured Clare still had breathing space with 3 second half points.
A late Darragh Fitzgibbon goal left just two points between the teams on a score line of 0-28 to 2-20 and one would be forgiven for thinking Cork might just snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Clare held on however and Brian Lohan’s side will look forward to welcoming All Ireland Champion’s Limerick to Cusack Park on the 15th of May
