2024 oneills.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship – Cork 2-22 Clare 1-19

Cork defeated Clare by 2-22 to 1-19 in Round 2 of the oneills.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship on Friday April 12th at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Cork defeat Clare to make it two wins out of two in Munster U20 hurling championshiphttps://t.co/bM7Z6wMKmv

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) April 12, 2024

Cork defeat Clare to make it two wins out of two in Munster U20 hurling championship

Cork 2-22 Clare 1-19

Report by Eoghan Cormican for the Irish Examiner newspaper

These two will dance again. Chalk it down.

When they first danced as minors three years ago, Cork were a remarkable 40-point winners. The 6-28 to 0-6 rout would prove an outlier rather than an accurate reading of Clare’s underage health.

The Banner have since contested the last two Munster minor finals, winning the latter, and then adding an All-Ireland. At U20 level last year, no team panicked champions Cork as much as Clare did in the provincial decider.

The 40-point rout of three years ago looked set for a sensational turnaround a quarter of an hour into this Munster Round 2 U20 fixture. The visitors led 0-10 to 0-3. If they kept up such relentless raising of the white flag, they’d hit the 40-point mark they lost by in July 2021.

The first half had something for everyone. It was a half Clare were in utter control of until their manager Terence Fahy delayed in handing the sliotar over to a Cork player for a home sideline on the South Stand side. It proved a costly and game-changing delay by the Clare boss.

Cork’s frustration in not having possession immediately given to them sparked a sideline melee, involving numerous players from both sides. At the end of it, there were yellow cards for Cork’s Ben Walsh, Clare’s Jack O’Neill, and the aforementioned Fahy.

From the eventually taken sideline, and with tempers heightened and patience shortened, a late Ronan Keane challenge on Ben Walsh, after the latter had overcarried, was caught by the linesman. The decision was red.

Clare, in front by 0-11 to 0-5 on 25 minutes, were now down to 14. Instead of throwing over a free to extend their lead to eight, the Clare free was overturned, and Cork, buoyed by their numerical advantage, reeled off 1-2 without reply to cut a gap that once stood seven-strong to the minimum.

The goal was a Ross O’Sullivan rebound. The initial shot from Diarmuid Healy was superbly saved by Mark Sheedy.

Involved in the build-up was a busy William Buckley, the sole Cork player to swim against the tide when Clare threatened to submerge their hosts. The centre-forward was the sole Cork scorer in the opening 13 minutes.

Buckley and Cork’s second on 13 minutes left them 0-8 to 0-2 in arrears. Even at such an early juncture, they were hanging on.

The visitors’ opening was awesome. Their work-rate was savage. They forced turnovers and read passes.

Conor Whelan had them on the board inside 13 seconds. They weren’t hanging about. James Hegarty, Seán Rynne, Jack O’Neill, and Michael Collins all nailed the target to shove Fahy’s young charges 0-8 to 0-1 clear by the 12th minute.

A Ronan Kilroy pair had them into double-digits 30 seconds before the end of the first quarter.

Cork slowly gained a footprint in proceedings thereafter. It was slow to show on the scoreboard, though. Jack Leahy on four occasions was off target. Leahy, mind, more than made up for this inaccuracy during a third quarter where Cork sped off and sealed their second win of the campaign.

After Whelan’s fifth free a minute into the second period nudged Clare 0-14 to 1-8 ahead, Cork produced a 1-4 burst to hit the front for the first time. The goal belonged to Leahy, a stunning effort to the top left corner. He also accounted for two of the four white flags.

Coasting along until a fine James Organ fetch and finish on 55 minutes brought Clare within one score, 2-18 to 1-18, Cork replied with a converted Buckley free won by Leahy.

Cork’s two attacking mainstays once again stepping up. Between them, they delivered 1-14.

Ben O’Connor’s side are not out again for another two weeks (home to Limerick), Clare have a three-week break before they welcome Waterford.

The Munster final is fixed for May 24. Don’t be at all surprised if it is these two contesting it.

Scorers for Cork: J Leahy (1-6, 0-2 frees); W Buckley (0-8, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); M Finn (0-3); R O’Sullivan (1-0); J Dwyer, E O’Leary (0-2 each); D Healy (0-1).

Scorers for Clare: C Whelan (0-10, 0-8 frees); J Organ (1-0); R Kilroy (0-2); R Keane, J Hegarty, R O’Connor, S Rynne, N O’Farrell, J O’Neill, M Collins (0-1 each).

CORK: P O’Sullivan (Fr. O’Neill’s); D Cashman (Bride Rovers), K Lyons (Ballygarvan), D O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig); J Dwyer (Ballincollig), Ó O’Regan (Erins Own), C Tobin (Bride Rovers); M Finn (Midleton), Ben Walsh (Killeagh); D Cremin (Midleton), W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), D Healy (Lisgoold); T O’Connell (Ballincollig), J Leahy (Dungourney), R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: E O’Leary (Glen Rovers) for O’Sullivan (44); A O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig) for O’Connell (46); P O’Shea (Erin’s Own) for Tobin (53); J O’Brien (Fermoy) for Cashman (56-58, temporary); Barry Walsh (Killeagh) for Cremin (61).

CLARE: M Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); J Cahill (Clooney/Quin), T Leyden (Tulla), J Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona); J Moylan (Cratloe), E Gunning (Broadford), E Maxted (Clooney/Quin); R O’Connor (Feakle), R Keane (Killanena); R Kilroy (Banner), S Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona), N O’Farrell (Broadford); C Whelan (Whitegate), M Collins (Clonlara), J O’Neill (Clooney/Quin).
Subs: J Organ (Corofin) for Collins (50); O O’Connor (Feakle) for R O’Connor (52); L Crotty (Scariff) for Kilroy (59).

Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford)

Team Sheet

Fixture Details

Friday April 12th
2024 oneills.com Munster GAA Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 2
Cork v Clare
Venue: Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh @ 7pm
Referee: Nicky O’Toole (Waterford)
Streamed Live on Spórt TG4 YouTube

Ticket Information

General Admission: €10
Students/OAPs: €5
Under 16’s: Free

Tickets are available from participating Centra and Supervalu outlets or online via the link below.

Click here to buy tickets

Live Streaming Link for Spórt TG4 YouTube

Team News

Clare’s U20 hurlers take on Cork in Supervalu Páirc Ui Chaoimh this Friday night in Round Two of the @ONeills1918 @MunsterGAA Hurling Championship.

Ticket and streaming can be purchased at https://t.co/CGX5ZBwelv

Best of luck lads 🟡🔵🟡 pic.twitter.com/sjyXZJQb0L

— Clare Gaa (@GaaClare) April 11, 2024

Cork (Munster U20 HC v Clare): P O’Sullivan (Fr. O’Neill’s); D Cashman (Bride Rovers), K Lyons (Ballygarvan), D O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig); J Dwyer (Ballincollig), Ó O’Regan (Erins Own), C Tobin (Bride Rovers); M Finn (Midleton), Ben Walsh (Killeagh); D Healy (Lisgoold), T O’Connell (Ballincollig), D Cremin (Midleton); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), J Leahy (Dungourney), R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: D O’Connell (Dromina), J O’Brien (Fermoy), O McAdoo (Blackrock), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own), R O’Connell (Bride Rovers), J Galvin (Eire Óg), A O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig), E O’Leary (Glen Rovers), Barry Walsh (Killeagh).