St Finbarr’s (Cork) 2-14 Éire Óg (Clare) 0-12
Two first-half goals from Down’s Conor McCrickard steered St Finbarr’s to a first Munster club football final since 1986 following a hard-fought win over Éire Óg at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
It was a bruising game, which included four black cards, two each, a plethora of yellows and one red late on for Éire Óg midfielder Darren O’Neill after his second yellow.
McCrickard pounced first after 12 minutes, when the brilliant Steven Sherlock ignored a tap-over point from a close-in free to pick him out with a lovely weighted pass for a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.
Despite losing their influential midfielder and captain, Ian Maguire, to a black card after 18 minutes, the 14-men asserted their authority on proceedings.
They scored 1-4 without reply during his absence though the goal will cause nightmares for the Éire Óg defence, who allowed a long-range pass from Colin Lyons float over directly to McCrickard, who finished in style.
The Cork champions led by 2-7 to 0-4 at the interval, but the visitors responded to the challenge impressively.
Spurred on by dynamic wing-back Ciarán Russell and captain Gavin Cooney and Mark McInerney inside, Éire Óg gradually reduced the deficit.
It was down to five at the second water-break, 2-9 to 0-10 following a run of four points on the spin, including a couple from dashing centre-back Conall Ó hÁiniféin.
And Éire Óg were just four adrift entering the closing 10 minutes following a Cooney free, but that was as good as it got for the Clare champions.
Sherlock, who has been a revelation all season for the ‘Barr’s, showed why by scoring the closing four points, starting with a magnificent effort off his left under severe pressure.
And he knew it was his day when an injury-time free from way out on the left touchline crashed over off an upright.
St Finbarr's: J Kerins; C Scully, J Burns, S Ryan; C Lyons, B Hennessy, A O'Connor; I Maguire (c), E Comyns; D O'Brien (0-1), C McCrickard (2-1), M Shields; C Myers-Murray (0-3), S Sherlock (0-9, 0-6f, 1m), E Dennehy.
Subs: E McGreevey for Shields 40 mins, B O'Connell for Dennehy and A Lyne for O'Brien 47 mins, L Hannigan for Lyons 53 mins, C Walsh for Myers-Murray 60 mins.
Éire Óg: N Murray; M Doherty, A Fitzgerald, R Lanigan; E O'Connor, C Ó hÁinifein (0-2), C Russell; D O'Neill (0-1), D McNamara; A McGrath, D Reidy, N McMahon; P Talty (0-1), G Cooney, (0-5, 0-2f), captain, M McInerney (0-3).
Subs: I Ugwueru for McGrath 24 mins, D Walsh for Reidy 39 mins, E Courtney for McMahon 43 mins, D O'Brien for Talty, T Connellan for McInerney 60 mins.
Referee: B Griffin (Kerry).
