Cork python swallows Clare

GAELIC GAMES: One of those strange voyages for Cork. The waters were choppy and full of forebodings as they left the quay. In the end they cruised home on a calm sea and even had time for a little showboating. Not the sort of challenge they had expected from Clare in this Munster semi-final, but with Clare it's best not to expect anything.

It wasn't a game which brought a major shock or saw one team use six subs or one man receive three yellow cards, but it was enthralling and intriguing in its own right.

Clare came to town with the heft and the handiness to cause an upset. But they found Cork in the mood to float like butterflies and sting like bees. It was one of the most assured performances the All-Ireland champions have turned in over the last few years.

So Cork advance to a Munster final to be played in Thurles. They meet the winners of next weekend's Tipperary and Waterford game. More importantly, in terms of the gathering excitement following yesterday's sharp performance, they remain on target for a third All-Ireland on the trot.

The game began at a crazy pace. Semple Stadium had scarcely settled itself after the anthem when all hell broke loose. Niall McCarthy had a Cork point after 36 seconds, Barry Nugent had replied after 58 seconds, Niall Gilligan had put Clare ahead after 98 seconds. Then we drew breath.

In that opening period Clare looked as if they had the power of lightning in their fingers. They were sharp and their stickwork was excellent, and by the 10th minute they led by six points to two.

Cork, though, digest teams as a python might. Slowly and steadily getting their jaws around them, suddenly they are visible only as a lump travelling through the python's body.

The Cork half-back line slowly crushed the life out of the Clare forwards. In midfield things began to move in a similar way. And then of course there were the fangs of the team. Joe Deane was back to his incisive best.

Clare might have known it was all over as early as the 11th minute when Deane levitated above Ger O'Grady and caught the ball (the first but not the last time he would do that). Deane turned. And: "I thought I was going to be hooked and I kind of mishit it, but it was going to the top corner, and in fairness (to Davy Fitzgerald), I give him all the credit in the world, it was a great save. It would have been a nice goal."

After that Deane was unstoppable, the yellow helmet buzzing everywhere with waspish intent. He finished the day with nine points, three of them from play, and a photo collection of mesmerising touches and passes. Every time somebody goes to write off this Cork forward line somebody turns in a display like this.

Clare fought hard but, having scored six times in the first 10 minutes, they found themselves on subsistence rations for the rest of the day.

Cork were bossing midfield now, and in one patch Tom Kenny scored a fine point after a long solo run through the heart of the Clare defence, and then Jerry O'Connor followed up with a string of three points, one from play.

Two points in it at the break. Clare manager Anthony Daly no doubt pounding the tables and saying passionate things, but Cork, relentless and remorseless, came out and scored the first six points of the second half. What can you do?

"It's the self-belief that we have as a team," said manager John Allen. "If we are beaten, it is ourselves that will beat us."

"I think it's our work rate," said Deane. "It is a great trait that is bred into us. Every forward puts their body on the line for the team."

"It's their know-how in getting scores from distance," said Daly.

Cork get back to work this week. Allen joked that he hoped people weren't too impressed by the quality of yesterday's win.

"The favourites for Munster will come from the other semi-final."

Clare have the familiar march ahead of them.

"We'll look at the video," said Daly, "regroup and work hard. There's no quick fix."

No quick fix, but the summer is long and Clare are experienced. Those 10 golden minutes at the start of yesterday's game may not seem like much, but they'll nourish them on a few hard nights over the next few weeks.