Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi Final – Cork 2-13 Clare 1-9

Casey hits the net twice as Cork defeat Clare in Munster IHC semi final

Report from the Score.ie web site

Cork 2-12 Clare 1-9

Two goals by attacker Colm Casey propelled Cork to success against Clare in today’s Munster intermediate hurling semi-final clash at the Gaelic Grounds. Casey found the net in both halves as the Rebels saw off a Banner side who had entered the game on the back of a quarter-final victory over Waterford. Cork enjoyed a commanding 1-10 to 1-3 lead at the interval with Casey rattling the net in the opening stages to see them move ahead by 1-2 to 0-0.

Clare fought back courtesy of centre-back Alan O’Neill’s accuracy from placed balls and then full-forward Aidan Lynch bundled the ball to the net past former Cork senior goalkeeper Martin Coleman, the captain of the current intermediate side, midway through the half. That cut the gap to 1-6 to 1-2 but Cork, helped by the accuracy of Peter O’Brien from placed balls, powered clear before the interval with Mark Kennefick also impressing up front in the opening period.

Clare opened brightly in the second-half with Niall Arthur, a member of last year’s All-Ireland U21 winning setup, on the mark while Cathal O’Connell, another 2012 U21 star, also caught the eye in attack. But Casey fired home his second goal of the game to see Cork go in front by 2-10 to 1-5 and they held on for victory by six points at the finish.

Scorers for Cork: Colm Casey 2-0, Peter O’Brien 0-6 (0-5f), Mark Kennefick 0-3, Martin Coleman (0-1f), Brian Lawton, Anthony Watson 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Aidan Lynch 1-1, Niall Arthur (0-2f), Alan O’Neill (0-2f), Jamie Shanahan, Cathal O’Connell 0-2 each.

CORK: Martin Coleman (Ballinhassig); John O’Callaghan (Inniscarra), Eoin Dillon (Milford), Ed Finn (Ballinhassig); Tadhg Healy (Buttevant), Ross Cashman (Kilbrittain), Michael Walsh (Kildorrery); John Cronin (Lisgoold), Shane McCarthy (Ballinhassig); Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr), Peter O’Brien (Kildorrery), Stephen Dineen (Ballinhassig); Colm Casey (Inniscarra), Kevin Canty (Valley Rovers), Mark Kennefick (Ballygarvan).

Subs: Barry Lawton (Castlemartyr) for Canty (25), Anthony Watson (Milford) for Dineen (43), Brian O’Sullivan (Fermoy) for O’Callaghan (47), Nicky Kelly (Mayfield) for McCarthy (59).

CLARE: Keith Hogan (Clooney-Quin); Killian Ryan (Ruan), Darragh Corry (Tulla), Jack Browne (Ballyea); Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle), Alan O’Neill (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Cathal Chaplin (Broadford); Pa Sheehan (Sixmilebridge), Jarlath Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); Gary Guilfoyle (Feakle), Mikey O’Neill (Kilmaley), Cathal Malone (Ennistymon); Niall Arthur (Inagh-Kilnamona), Aidan Lynch (Ruan), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara).

Subs: Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge) for Guilfoyle (20), Enda Boyce (Cratloe) for Corry (26), Ger Arthur (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Arthur (44), Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea) for Sheehan (44), Shane O’Brien (Clonlara) for Mikey O’Neill (50)

Referee: Pat Casey (Waterford)

Fixture Details

SUNDAY JUNE 23rd

Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Clare v Cork

Venue: Gaelic Grounds Limerick @ 1:45pm

Referee – Pat Casey (Waterford)

Extra time if necessary

Team News

The Cork Intermediate team to play Clare on Sunday at 1.45pm in Limerick will line out as follows:

1. Martin Coleman

2. John O’Callaghan 3. Eoin Dillon 4. Ed Finn

5. Tadhg Healy 6. Ross Cashman 7. Michael Walsh

8. John Cronin 9. Shane McCarthy

10. Brian Lawton 11. Peter O’Brien 12. Stephen Dineen

13. Colm Casey 14. Kevin Canty 15. Adrian Mannix

16 James Mc Sweeney Bandon

17 Brian O Sullivan Fermoy

18 John Carey Dripsey

19 Colm Barry Castlelyons

20 Nicky Kelly Mayfield

21 Mark Kennifick Ballygarvan

22 Barry Lawton Castlemartyr

23 Mark Sugrue Bandon

24 Anthony Watson Milford

Martin Coleman will captain the side.