A late Seadna Morey goal finally sealed an opening Allianz Hurling League Division 1 victory for hosts Clare following a superb second-half display into the wind in Ennis.
In front of a healthy attendance of 7,380, the Banner powered six clear early on with the aid of a strong breeze but looked to have initially blown their opportunity after the concession of brace of second-quarter goals for Patrick Horgan and Tommy O'Connell slashed the half-time arrears to just the minimum.
However, a blistering start to the new half of seven of the first eight points, including five Mark Rodgers frees, provided a renewed impetus for the home side and they soared seven clear by the turn of the final quarter, 0-21 to 2-08.
True to form, Cork inevitably rallied and did lower the arrears to just two points entering the final ten minutes, only to be sucker-punched by a 65th-minute goal from substitute Morey who fielded David Fitzgerald’s teasing delivery over the top of Cork’s last line to break through and bat to the net at 1-22 to 2-14.
Pat Ryan’s side did maintain their backlash but without a goal their efforts were in vain as a buoyant Banner exacted revenge for their Munster League defeat to the same opponents only three weeks earlier.
Brian Lohan’s side appeared to be in full control in the opening quarter when Young Hurler of the Year Rodgers was aided by points from Cathal Malone, David Reidy, David Fitzgerald and league debutante Gearoid Sheedy to move 0-09 to 0-03 in front by the 18th minute.
A Sean Twomey surge in the next passage of play handed Cork a lifeline though as he moved the ball through Shane Kingston for the waiting Patrick Horgan to fire to the net from the edge of the square and make it 0-09 to 1-3.
Clare had an identical chance for Rodgers somehow stopped by goalkeeper Patrick Collins five minutes later, a save that would be magnified when Robbie O’Flynn teed up Tommy O’Connell for a piledriver to the top left corner of the net that restored full parity in spectacular fashion nearing the half hour.
Robin Mounsey (2) and Rodgers ensured that the hosts inched 0-14 to 2-07 in front by the break but it didn’t seem enough considering the strength of the conditions.
Rodgers and Co. simply refused to adhere to the script, however, as the Scariff forward hit the first four points of the second period and from there it was Cork that were forced to chase matters.
Clare face an early top-of-the-table clash with Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford next Sunday while Cork will look to get off the mark when hosting Kilkenny in Supervalu Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday night (7.30pm)
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan, Adam Hogan; Diarmuid Ryan, David McInerney (0-01), Darragh Lohan; Cathal Malone (0-02), Sean Rynne; David Fitzgerald (0-02), Robin Mounsey (0-02), Gearoid Sheedy (0-01); Mark Rodgers (0-13, 0-10f, 0-01’65), Aidan McCarthy, David Reidy (0-02)
Subs: Seadna Morey (1-01) for Rynne (HT), Peter Duggan for Sheedy (49), Shane Meehan (0-01) for McCarthy (53), Patrick Crotty for Mounsey (66), Keith Smyth for Reidy (68)
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Eoin Roche, Sean O’Donoghue (0-01); Tommy O’Connell (1-00), Ciaran Joyce (0-01), Cormac O’Brien (0-01); Brian Roche, Eoin Carey; Shane Kingston (0-03), Conor Lehane (0-02), Sean Twomey (0-01); Robbie O’Flynn (0-01), Patrick Horgan (1-07, 0-07f), Brian Hayes
Subs: Luke Meade for B. Roche (47), Shane Barrett (0-02) for Hayes (54), Micheál Mullins for Carey (61), Robbie Cotter for O’Flynn (67), Jack O Connor for Lehane (68)
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)
