Sport

Clare in flying finish

CORK...0-18 CLARE...2-20: Clare tried to keep themselves in contention for a place in the league final with a devastating finish…

Mon Apr 26 2004 - 01:00

CORK...0-18 CLARE...2-20: Clare tried to keep themselves in contention for a place in the league final with a devastating finish against an experimental Cork side at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night. Little did anyone in the 3,970 crowd realise that Ben O'Connor's pointed free after 57 minutes would be the home team's last score.

It was Cork's sixth consecutive point without reply and helped them to a 0-18 to 0-15 lead after they had been 0-15 to 0-13 behind after 46 minutes.

Just when it appeared Clare's hopes were fading the introduction of substitutes Daithí O'Connell and Frank Lohan turned the contest on its head as the visitors chalked up 2-5 without reply.

The pair combined for the first goal 10 minutes from the end. Lohan opened up the home defence before passing to O'Connell who fired home from close range to restore equality.

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Four minutes later Clare grabbed a second goal. O'Connell cut in from the right only to be denied by goalkeeper Paul Morrissey. Niall Gilligan swept the rebound into the unguarded net.

O'Connor upped his tally with a point and a pointed Gilligan free made it 2-17 to 0-18 before Cork were awarded a second penalty two minutes from the end. Diarmuid O'Sullivan, who took over the duties after Ben O'Connor's effort was saved by Ger O'Connell, fared no better as the goalkeeper once again stopped the shot. Clare sealed it with three points, from Gilligan, Lohan and Alan Markham.

CORK: P Morrissey; B Murphy, J Browne, C O'Connor; I Kelleher, D O'Sullivan, M Prendergast; G Callinan (0-1), P Tierney (0-2); J Anderson (0-2), N McCarthy (0-2), T McCarthy (0-1); B O'Connor (0-7, four frees, one '65), J Deane (0-2, one free), K Murphy (0-1). Subs: R Curran for O'Connor, T Kenny for Kelleher.

CLARE: G O'Connell; B Quinn, B O'Connell, G O'Grady; D Hoey, S McMahon (0-3, two frees, one '65), G Quinn; O Baker, D McMahon; J O'Connor (0-1), C Lynch (0-2), T Griffin (0-3); N Gilligan (1-8, six frees), A Markham (0-1), D Forde. Subs: F Lohan (0-1) for Quinn, F Lohan for O'Connor injured, D O'Connell (1-1) for D McMahon.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).