Cork 1-20 Clare 0-14:An own goal by Clare defender James Gunning at the end of the third quarter sent champions Cork on their way to a comfortable win over Clare in Thurles yesterday.

Though Cork deserved their win they took a long time to shake off the challenge of Clare, who were left to rue a couple of missed goal chances in the first half.

Little separated the teams in the first half and they were level, 0-4 each, at the end of the first quarter. Ryan Clifford's accuracy from frees was vital for Cork as they forged an interval lead of 0-9 to 0-6.

Clare needed to improve in the second period but Cork stayed on top . They were leading 0-14 to 0-10 by the end of the third quarter when James Gunning, attempting to clear his lines, put the ball into his own net.

CORK: D McCarthy; J Herlihy, A Kearney, E McCarthy (0-1); L McLoughlin, C O'Donovan, S McDonnell; K Murphy, M Sexton; R White (0-2), M Bowles, D O'Sullivan (0-1); L O'Farrell (0-1), D Stack (0-1), R Clifford (0-9). Subs: P Gould (0-4) for Sexton, R O'Driscoll (0-1) for White, G O'Connor for McDonnell, M O'Mahoney for Stack. Cork goal J Gunning og.

CLARE: D Tuohy; D Nash, B Glynn, J Gunning; N O'Connell, C Morey (0-1), B O'Connor; C Duggan, S Collins (0-2); K Heagney (0-3), D Moloney, J Conlon (0-1); D Honan (0-1), P Vaughan, B Earley (0-5). Subs: R Shanahan for Vaughan, E Madden (0-1) for Moloney, I White for O'Connell, J Fennessy for O'Connor.

Referee: P Casey (Waterford)