Waterford Crystal Cup Semi Final – Clare 0-20 Cork 2-11

Banner too slick for Rebels

By Denis Hurley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final: CLARE 0-20 CORK 2-11

Late points from Colin Ryan and Cathal O’Connell helped Clare edge past Cork in the Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final at Sixmilebridge last night. It was a game largely unseen by many of those intending to attend it, however, as a fuel spill on the Limerick-Galway road caused a huge traffic jam from just beyond the toll plaza, with Cork players and supporters caught in the gridlock. As a result, the game’s start was put back from its intended slot of 7.45pm to 8.15pm and then 8.30pm. The pre-match situation for the Rebels was more akin to the lead-in to a junior B league game rather than an intercounty clash, with playing resources arriving at various times and many in different cars. Ultimately, they started with six changes from the announced side, as Conor O’Sullivan, Daniel Kearney, Cian McCarthy, Adrian Mannix and Stephen Moylan were travelling together, while Colm Spillane was sick. Given that the exclusion of one goalkeeper from the Cork panel had taken much of the attention, it added a layer of humour that William McCarthy, named as back-up to Anthony Nash here, started the game at corner-forward, before Mannix replaced him after his belated arrival.

Despite the upheaval, a free from Patrick Horgan gave Cork the game’s opening score, but after an even start Clare pulled three clear at 0-5 to 0-2 by the 24th minute, the free-taking of midfielder Nicky O’Connell helping them while corner-forward Shane O’Donnell was also asking questions of the visitors’ defence. Horgan had three of Cork’s opening-half scores, but corner-back Donal O’Donovan epitomised the strength of the Clare defence and at half time the home side led by 0-10 to 0-7.

The minute-hand on the clock was closer to 10pm than 9pm when the second half started, and Mannix gave Cork hope when he rounded off a great move involving Horgan and Cian McCarthy in the 44th minute to cut the gap, 0-14 to 1-8. After Horgan and Colin Ryan exchanged points, Horgan’s shot tipped over by Donal Tuohy, Mannix then pulled a loose ball to the net to tie at 0-15 to 2-9. Ultimately, though, Clare had the stronger finish as they progressed.

Scorers for Clare: C Ryan 0-8 (6f), N O’Connell 0-6 (5f), P Collins, S O’Donnell 0-2 each, C O’Connell, J Clancy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: A Mannix 2-1, P Horgan 0-4 (3f), C Murphy 0-2, C McCarthy, D Lordan, R O’Shea, J Coughlan 0-1 each.

CLARE: D Tuohy; D O’Donovan, C Duggan, B O’Connell; B Bugler, P Donnellan, P O’Connor; N O’Connell, S Morey; C Ryan, P Collins, E Barrett; S O’Donnell, A O’Neill, J Clancy.

Subs: D McInerney for B O’Connell (45), T Kelly for Collins, M Flaherty for O’Neill, C O’Connell for Clancy (all 55), D O’Halloran for O’Donnell (66).

CORK: A Nash; J O’Donovan, M Ellis, P O’Sullivan; M Walsh, C Joyce, S White; D Pyne, R O’Shea; B Corry, D Lordan, C Murphy; W McCarthy, P Horgan, J Coughlan.

Subs: A Mannix for W McCarthy (33), C McCarthy for Lordan (h-t), D Kearney for Pyne (38), S Moylan for Corry (58).

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary)

The Cork Senior Hurling team to play Clare in the Waterford Crystal Cup Semi-Final tomorrow night (Friday) at 7.45pm in Sixmilebridge will line out as follows:

1. Anthony Nash

2. Conor O’Sullivan 3. Mark Ellis 4. Pat O’Sullivan

5. Colm Spillane 6. Christopher Joyce 7. Stephen White

8. Daniel Kearney 9. Rob O’Shea

10. Brian Corry 11. Cian McCarthy 12. Cormac Murphy

13. Adrian Mannix 14. Stephen Moylan 15. Jamie Coughlan

Subs:

16. Willie McCarthy Carrigtwohill

17. James O’Donovan Bandon

18. Michael Walsh Kildorrery

19. Stephen McDonnell Glen Rovers

20. David Pyne Harbour Rovers

21. Daire Lordan Courcey Rovers

22. Fintan O’Leary Ballinhassig

For the Record

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling 2013

Preliminary Round

Saturday January 19th

@ Kilmallock                               Limerick 3-15 Mary Immaculate College 0-13

@ The Mardyke                          Cork 3-20 UCC 1-16

Sunday January 20^th

@ Abbeydorney                          Kerry 6-17 IT Tralee 0-12

@ WIT GAA Grounds                  University of Limerick 1-20 Waterford 0-18

Quarter-Finals
Thursday January 24^th

@ Abbeydorney                          Limerick Institute of Technology 1-25 Kerry 3-7

Saturday January 26^th

@ Pairc Ui Rinn                           Cork 4-16 Waterford Institute of Technology 1-8

Sunday January 27^th

@ Sixmilebridge                          Clare 3-13 University of Limerick   1-13
@ MacDonagh Park Nenagh        Tipperary 0-22 Limerick 1-9

Semi-Finals (Extra Time)

Friday February 1st

@ Sixmilebridge                          Clare v Cork                                                    @ 7:45pm

Sunday February 3rd

@ Dolla                                      Tipperary v Limerick Institute of Technology      @ 12:00pm

Final (Extra Time)

Sunday February 10^th

Clare v Cork v Tipperary or LIT

Venue Permutations

@ Clare venue                            Clare v Tipperary (last meeting – 2010 Q-Final at Borrisoleigh)
@ Clare venue                            Clare v LIT
@ Cork venue                             Cork v Tipperary (last meeting – 2012 S-Final in Templemore)
@ Cork venue                             Cork v LIT

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling – Odds and Ends

35 goals were scored in the 2012 Waterford Crystal Cup competition over 11 matches (an average of 3.2 goals per match). This contrasts with 23 goals in the 2011 competition over 10 matches (an average of 2.3 goals per match). In the first eight matches in the 2013 competition, there were 28 goals scored (an average of 3.5 goals per match)

Since the Waterford Crystal Cup began in 2006, Clare (16 wins), Tipperary (14 wins) and Waterford (13 wins) have accounted for 43 of the 79 victories in the competition (54%).

Tipperary hold the record for the longest winning streak in the Waterford Crystal Cup since the competition began under that guise in 2006 when they won 10 consecutive matches between 2007 and 2009.

None of the five teams who take part in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship have a losing record in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006.

Since the Waterford Crystal Cup began in 2006, 74 games have been played with just 1 draw – the 2012 Limerick v Clare Quarter-Final after two periods of extra time.

The record of the Third Level Colleges in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006 is Won 21, Lost 44, a 32% success rate.

Clare are the only team who have won at least one game each year since the Waterford Crystal Cup competition began in 2006.

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling Roll Of Honour

Tipperary (3) – 2007, 2008, 2012

Waterford (2) – 2010, 2011

Clare (1) – 2009

Limerick (1) – 2006