Fiery Clare push Cork to the limit

Cork 0-15 Clare 0-11: A fiery Clare side gave Cork a fright in the All-Ireland Football qualifier at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Saturday, but in the end had to concede to a powerful finish by the Leesiders.

For a good part of this game, Billy Morgan's men were on the back foot as they struggled to cope with a committed Clare. However, inspired substitutions by Morgan in the second half gave Cork the advantage.

Clare deservedly raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after five minutes, Denis Russell providing all three scores. The first two came from frees, the third after Rory Donnelly dug out a deft pass from the ground to find the well-positioned Russell.

Colin Corkery got Cork started with a long-range point after seven minutes before Donnelly made it 4-1 to Clare three minutes later.

As the half progressed, Clare dominated but squandered chances to seize the advantage. An Alan Cronin point in the 18th minute brought the sides level, at 0-5 apiece, after Clare goalkeeper Dermot O'Brien erred with a kick-out.

Moments later Conor McCarthy gave Cork the lead against the run of play, and they held on to a one-point advantage until the break (0-8 to 0-7).

But Clare restarted impressively. Alan Clohessy landed a long-range free and the Russell brothers, David and Denis, made it 0-10 to 0-8 by the 45th minute.

Cork substitute Michael O'Sullivan and Clare's Denis Russell exchanged points before the visitors hit five unanswered scores in as many minutes, Colin Corkery and Colin Crowley grabbing two each and substitute Ciarán O'Sullivan taking the other.

This was a vital period for Cork and some impressive displays from Graham Canty, when moved to midfield, and from the forward line, where the two O'Sullivans, Michael and Ciarán, and Seán Levis provided more scoring options, helped dismiss a tiring Clare outfit.

But in the final quarter, Cork had to rely on a solid defence as Clare came in search of an equalising goal. Twice goalkeeper Kevin O'Dwyer was called upon to make telling saves; he denied Donnelly a minute from time and stopped a David Russell effort in injury time.

Eoin Sexton snatched the insurance point for Cork with almost the last kick of the game.

CORK: K O'Dwyer; S O'Brien, D Kavanagh, G Murphy; E Sexton (0-1), G Canty, M Cronin; D Hurley, N Murphy; A Cronin (0-1), M Ó Cróinín (0-1), C McCarthy (0-1); C Crowley (0-2), C Corkery (0-6, 5frees), B J O'Sullivan (0-1). Subs: C O'Sullivan (0-1) for BJ O'Sullivan (42 mins), M O'Sullivan (0-1) for Hurley (45), S Levis for Ó Cróinín (49), K O'Sullivan for A Cronin (62).

CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, C Whelan, K Dilleen; A Clohessy (0-2, 1f), B Considine, R Slattery; David Russell (Kilkee) (0-1), G Quinlan; Denis Russell (0-7, 5 frees), S Hickey O O'Dwyer; E Coughlan, M O'Shea, R Donnelly (0-1). Subs: N Griffin for Considine (inj) (12 mins), S O'Meara for O'Dwyer (35), D O'Sullivan for Hickey (54), David Russell (Clarecastle) for O'Shea (63).

Referee: S McCormack (Meath)