Man-of-the-match Niall Gilligan tallied up 0-11 as Clare beat Munster rivals Cork – 0-18 to 0-16 – to move directly through to the Allianz NHL Division One semi-finals.
In a high-quality game of hurling at Pairc Ui Rinn, the Banner men – Division 1A leaders before the throw-in – held their nerve to gain revenge on Cork for last year’s one-point defeat in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final.
In front of a crowd close to the 10,000 mark, Clare – aided by the wind and showing seven changes from the side originally selected – went in at the break with a 0-09 to 0-08 lead.
Early points from Gilligan, Gerry Quinn and Seanie McMahon had the visitors 0-03 to no score in front.
Both Quinn and McMahon’s efforts were from the 70-yard mark. Tom Kenny, playing in the number 12 jersey and put forward as Cork’s designated free-taker, slotted over three placed balls to level an exciting tie.
Gilligan then landed two more points before Ciaran McGann and Conor Cusack got off the mark for the Rebels, leaving it at 0-05 apiece after 18 minutes.
Wing back Cian O’Connor and teenage corner forward Cathal Naughton also raised white flags for Cork before the short whistle, but Gilligan had raced his personal haul up to 0-07 by that stage.
As the sides continued to sound each other out – their Munster SHC semi-final clash is just seven weeks away – Clare midfielder Colin Lynch came to the fore with two points, one a hair-raising effort from the left flank. Daithi O’Connell also added to Clare’s tally.
Cork kept in the hunt with Kenny (0-06) in good form, but they were struck down to 14 men on 63 minutes when corner back Dara McSweeney was sent off.
A McMahon point pushed Clare 0-17 to 0-16 in front and Gilligan pointed an injury-time penalty to rubberstamp a fourth win in five league games for Anthony Daly’s side.
