MUNSTER MFC FIRST ROUND: Cork 2-10 Clare 0-11:HOLDERS Cork struggled to shake off a determined Clare side in the opening round of the Munster minor football championship at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Goals by Dan McEoin after 14 minutes and Stephen O’Mahony in the 47th minute proved crucial for Cork against a Clare side which enjoyed many chances, but faulty shooting let them down. Cork led by 1-5 to 0-7 at half-time.

CORK:J McDonnell; J Davis, C Dorman, K Hayes-Curtin; K Crowley (0-1), K Fulignati, captain, K O'Hanlon; S Kiely, M Sugrue; B O'Driscoll (0-1, free), A Cadogan, D Harrington; D MacEoin (1-4, 0-2 frees), S O'Mahony (1-0), C O'Sullivan (0-3). Subs:D Murphy for O'Hanlon (half-time), S Ryan for Fulignati (41 mins), J Corkery for Harrington (54 mins), K McIntyre (0-1) for Cadogan (56 mins).

CLARE:D Sexton; C Gavin, captain, C O'Brien, O Vaughan; J Colleran, S Lineen, D Bolton; A O'Neill, D McDonagh; E Cleary (0-1, free), C Cleary (0-1), A Murrihy; M O'Leary (0-2), N Hickey (0-5, 0-4 frees), J Malone (0-1). Subs:W Flynn (0-1) for Malone (37 mins), J Ruane for Bolton (41 mins), C Devitt for O'Leary (51 mins), J Sweeney for O'Brien (55 mins), J Scanlon for Murrihy (58 mins).

Referee:R Moloney (Limerick).