Cork's cavalry from the bench preserved their unbeaten Allianz Hurling League record as injury-time points through Conor Lehane and Conor Cahalane snatched a share of the spoils with hosts Clare in Cusack Park, Ennis.
With the sides set to meet once more at the same venue nine weeks later in the Munster Championship, neither were prepared to show anywhere near their full hand as Cork were already safely through to the penultimate stage of the league with a game to spare while for Clare it was all about finishing their campaign on an encouraging note.
There a draw, with both sides scoring 2-18 apiece, proved the fairest outcome for both as Cork now prepare for next weekend’s semi-final showdown with Kilkenny while the Banner have five weeks to prepare for their home championship opener against Division 1B table-toppers Tipperary.
In an open end-to-end contest, the first half provided the bulk of the entertainment as the provincial rivals shared four goals. Wind-assisted Cork were first to strike in only the eighth minute when Ethan Twomey's delivery was gathered and finished by Padraig Power to the net at 1-03 to 0-01, only to see it immediately wiped out when from the puck-out David Reidy batted a rebound from a rasping Tony Kelly shot past goalkeeper Ger Collins.
The unerring Aidan McCarthy ensured that the hosts kept pace with the Rebels until being floored by a second major in the 24th minute when a defensive mix-up allowed Seamus Harnedy to capitalise fully and find the net at 2-10 to 1-08.
It only took three minutes for Clare to reply fully as Aidan McCarthy teed up Seadna Morey to shoot on goal which again was parried by goalkeeper Collins, only to McCarthy to be the quickest to react and pull to the net as the home side reduced the half-time arrears to just two at 2-12 to 2-10.
As the inclement weather worsened so did the fare on show as the second half was much more scrappy and low-scoring. Aidan McCarthy’s free-taking heroics saw Clare finally move into the ascendency at the tie entered the final quarter as a trio of placed balls put his side 2-17 to 2-15 in front.
However, the dismissal of David Fitzgerald in the 65th minute did provide a glimmer of hopes for the visitors who aided by their fresh legs from the bench managed to salvage a gritty draw through Lehane and Cahalane.
The only downside for Cork manager Pat Ryan leading into next weekend’s semi-final with Kilkenny were injuries sustained by chief marksmen Seamus Harnedy and Declan Dalton who both had to retire prematurely with leg injuries in the opening half.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Aaron Fitzgerald, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan (0-01), John Conlon, David McInerney; Seadna Morey, Tony Kelly; David Fitzgerald (0-03), Cathal Malone, Ryan Taylor (0-01); David Reidy (1-00), Aidan McCarthy (1-11, 0-09f), Ian Galvin (0-01)
Subs: Darragh Lohan for Fitzgerald (HT), Peter Duggan for Galvin (57), Robin Mounsey (0-01) for Reidy (57), Davie Conroy for Morey (62), Jack Kirwan for Taylor (68),
Cork: Ger Collins; Niall O’Leary, Daire O’Leary, Eoin Roche; Cathal Cormack, Robert Downey, Cormac O’Brien; Brian Roche (0-01), Ethan Twomey; Declan Dalton (0-04, 0-03f), Seamus Harnedy (1-03), Brian Hayes (0-02); Alan Cadogen (0-01), Padraig Power (1-01), Jack O’Connor (0-01)
Subs: Conor Lehane (0-04, 0-03f) for Harnedy (29, inj), Conor Cahalane (0-01) for Dalton (34, inj), Shane Kingston for Cadogen (45), Ger Mellerick for B. Roche (55), Damien Cahalane for D. O’Leary (58)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
