Clare 1-20 Cork 0-21
A late scoring blitz saw Clare get the better of Cork in the opening round of the Coop Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League in Ennis.
The Banner trailed the Rebels for all but three minutes of regulation time, but hit 1-03 unanswered in the closing six minutes to snatch victory in front of an attendance of 1,987 at Cusack Park.
Despite naming just four players that started the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Limerick – Damien Cahalane, Eoin Cadogan, Christopher Joyce and Shane Kingston - it was a strong-looking team selected by Cork manager John Meyler.
Former captain Stephen McDonnell returned to defence after missing the 2018 Championship, while Aidan Walsh, Jamie Coughlan and Robbie O’Flynn bolstered their options up front.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to flex their attacking muscle, registering the first three points of the afternoon before Clare responded through Niall Deasy and Gary Cooney.
The Banner could well have kept the scoreboard ticking over more were it not for their inaccuracy, hitting five wides in the opening quarter.
The Rebels dominated first-half proceedings, looking sharper in attack and aided by Declan Dalton’s prowess from placed balls. The Fr O’Neill’s man slotted over six frees to ensure the visitors held a 0-13 to 0-07 advantage at the interval.
After a largely lethargic opening 35 minutes, Clare came flying out of the traps after the resumption.
The Banner reeled off four points in quick succession, with David Conroy and Cathal Malone to the fore and with 20 minutes remaining, the deficit was reduced to just a single point.
Joint-managers Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney introduced the likes of Conor Cleary and Jack Browne, but while it was tit-for-tat, Cork kept their noses in front, with a superb sideline cut from Dalton one of the highlights of the afternoon.
The Rebels appeared to be closing out the game when the home side roared back into the contest, much to the delight of the sizeable crowd.
Substitute Colin Guilfoyle’s goal two minutes from time was the catalyst and reduced the gap to the bare minimum.
A Deasy free drew the sides level for the first time and the momentum was very much with the home side.
Clare took the lead for the first time with the clock in the red courtesy of Ryan Taylor, with Diarmuid Ryan sealing a dramatic 1-20 to 0-21 victory.
