Cork admit gap in fitness

JOHN O'KEEFFE hadn't really got to tell us. It was plain to see that the Clare manager had his team running up and down hills. Only a strenuous training campaign could realise such levels of fitness and endurance.

"We worked very hard over the past six weeks, running up hills and we put in a ferocious amount of work in Shannon. These lads are mad for success. They would like to get a crack at Kerry in the final. Frankie Griffin marked Colin Corkery very well. In fact, the six backs marked very tight and effectively, great pace in all six positions."

O'Keeffe rejected the suggestion that Clare may have lost their chance. "We had injuries for this match and we will have a stronger panel next Sunday. But it will be hard to replace any of those lads.

"We owe a lot to Aidan O'Keeffe's free taking. When you're chasing the lead scores are hard to come by."

Billy Morgan, the Cork manager, seemed certain that the 45 award from which Aidan O'Keeffe scored the equaliser in lost time was "blatantly not a 45". But he conceded: "They played well and deserved a draw.

Corkery also agreed that Clare deserved a draw "but not the winning of the game." He went on: "Pulling and dragging is part and parcel of the game now. I did not play well today and I know I didn't. I will just have to train harder during next week."

"We didn't perform at all," was Cork goalkeeper Kevin O'Dwyer's instant comment. "Fair play to Clare, they were brilliant. They kicked numerous wides, they could easily have won it.

"We are lucky to be going out of here with another chance. A bit more luck for them in front of goals and we were dead and buried. They were way fitter than us. By comparison, we looked dead on our feet."

Goalscorer Mark O Sullivan said: "I thought we would hold out after the goal but they kept coming back at us."

"We were under pressure most of the time in defence," said Brian Corcoran. No sooner did we clear the ball and it was back down.

Their forwards were very fast, on a fast pitch. A lot of teams would have thrown in the towel but Clare didn't. All credit to them. Heart was Clare's main strength today, said Corcoran.