There was a major shock in Mallow on Wednesday night when Munster and All-Ireland Minor champions Cork were defeated 3-00 to 2-02 by a gallant Clare team in Mallow. Played in very bad weather conditions, the Banner were backed by a strong first half wind and were rewarded with a when they opened the scoring with a goal from Fióna Lafferty, with a second two minutes later from Maria Rafferty.
Cork's midfield pairing of captain Áine Watson, and Orla Cotter were doing well and the side delighted with a goal from Jenny O'Donovan. However, a third goal on the break from Danielle Sheedy put the Banner ahead 3-0 to Cork's 1-1 at the break. A strong Cork defence kept the Banner scoreless in the second half where centre back Lucy Hawkes was in fine form. Captain Watson scored Cork's second goal midway through the second half but Clare' defence remained solid to record a rare win over the Rebel County, and they will now meet Limerick in the Munster final on May 1.
Scorers:
Clare 3-00: F Lafferty, M Rafferty, D Sheedy 1-00.
Cork 2-02: J O'Donovan, Á Watson 1-00 each, M Browne, C Dillon 0-01 each.
Clare Team: S Vaughan; I Kaiser, A Mc Inerney, A Garry; C O'Leary, E Solan, J Moloney; L Hayes, M O'Brien; M Rafferty, E Hennessy,L Fahy; D Sheedy, F Lafferty, A Treacy.
Subs: S O'Loughlin for A Garry inj.
Cork Team: E White; J O'Regan, E O'Sullivan, S Sexton; O Neville, L Hawkes, O Cotter; Á Watson, M Crowley; C Long, D Cronin, S Lynch; D Twomey, M Browne, J O'Donovan.
Subs: C Dillon for S Lynch, E Corkery for M Crowley, C Kearney for D. Twomey.
Referee: E Browne, Tipperary.
Filed by Shane Murray
