Cork 2-21 Clare 0-18
Cork deprived Clare of a fourth successive Waterford Crystal Cup final appearance with a well-deserved win in an entertaining semi-final in Mallow on Saturday.
Cork have yet to get their hands on the cup, losing the 2007 and 2011 finals, but they had their place in the decider booked by half-time, when leading by 2-13 to 0-7.
Full-forward Luke O’Farrell scored both goals. The first came after 11 minutes and his finely-taken second a few minutes from the interval opened up a 13-point gap, which proved too much for last year’s beaten finalists.
Impressive midfielder Andy Walsh and forwards Cian McCarthy and Stephen Moylan kept the scoreboard ticking along for Cork, who faced a stiffer test on the resumption.
Colin Ryan and Bobby Duggan helped Clare reduce the margin to 2-15 to 0-15 after 52 minutes but Cork finished strongly, scoring three of the last four points through Alan Frahill-O'Connor, O'Farrell and a McCarthy free.
CORK: P Collins; C O'Sullivan, D Cahalane, S O'Donoghue; B O'Sullivan (0-1), L McLoughlin, G O'Connor; B Murray (0-1), A Walsh (0-2); P Kelleher (0-1), C McCarthy (0-7, three frees, one 65), B Lawton; S Moylan (0-2), L O'Farrell (2-3), D McCarthy (0-1). Subs: P Haughney (0-1) for Murray (42 mins), D Lee (0-1) for Kelleher (47), M Ellis for O'Connor (53 mins), A Frahill-O'Connor (0-1) for Lawton (57 mins), W Kearney for O'Donoghue (60 mins).
CLARE: P Kelly; D O'Donnell, C Duggan, S Morey; G O'Connell, Conor Ryan, C Cleary; B Bugler (0-3), Colin Ryan (0-3, one free); P Donnellan (0-2), B Duggan (0-4), S Golden (0-1); C O'Connell (0-4, three frees), A Cunningham, D O'Halloran. Subs: C Dillon for Conor Ryan (47 mins), P Flanagan for G O'Connell (49 mins), J Conlon for O'Halloran (50 mins), D Keane (0-1) for Donnellan (52 mins).
Referee: P Foley (Waterford)
