Subs dig Cork 'out of hole'
Cork 0-15 Clare 0-11
By Michael Ellard
COACH Billy Morgan summed it up after Cork's dramatic All-Ireland SFC qualifier win over Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis.
He saud: "We were almost buried but dug ourselves out of the hole just in time with a performance of fire and character."
Morgan was correct because until the introduction of Ciaran O'Sullivan and Sean Levis and some crucial positional switches, his lacklustre charges looked set to exit the competition.
Morgan, like the majority of the 3,500 fans, was mystified at Cork's ineptitude while playing with the exceptionally strong wind in the opening half.
In the very first minute midfielder Dermot Hurley slipped while trying to gain possession back defence. In stepped Denis Russell to loft over a lovely curling point.
With Russell, operating on the right wing, unerring from both play and frees and making life a misery for Martin Cronin, Clare dominated. Mercifully for Cork, who had their first score - a superb point from Colin Corkery under pressure in the 7th minute - Clare failed to translate their superiority into scores.
"We had them on the hook but we failed to reel them in," said Clare mentor Dave Loughman. And how right he was, because Cork were there for the taking before some fine long-range points from Colin Corkery, Brendan Jer O'Sullivan, Miceál Ó Cróinín and Conor McCarthy edged the fortunate Rebels into a 0-8 to 0-5 lead. Indeed Corkery's spectacular place kicking was the only redeeming feature of a best forgotten first-half Cork performance.
Two late points from Alan Clohessy and Denis Russell left the minimum between them at the break. It was just reward for Clare's enthusiasm and work-rate, spearheaded by wing-backs Alan Clohessy and Ronan Slattery, midfielder Ger Quinlan and the Russell brothers, David and Denis.
Morgan made no bones about it: "we were in big trouble at half-time. We were only a point up and were turning to face into a big wind. I felt our only chance was to get a few quick scores after the restart. I was convinced if that did not happen we were in for a very harrowing time."
Martin Cronin and Graham Canty were having complete off-days in the heart of the Cork defence, midfield was practically non-existent, while Corkery, who ended the game with six points to his credit, five from frees, was the only one to stand out in a non-functioning forward division.
Morgan's worst fears were realised. As his side continued to slumber, Clare, courtesy of Clohessy and the two Russells, rifled over three points in the opening ten minutes of the second-half and it looked curtains for the Leesiders.
But Ciaran O'Sullivan, who came on for Brendan Jer O'Sullivan, changed the game. "It was time for an old head," said Morgan.
O'Sullivan instilled Cork with much-needed direction. He scored with his first touch and although Clare got one back in the 49th minute, to maintain their two points advantage, the tide gradually turned in Cork's favour.
Finally, Cork got motoring, helped in no small way when Sean Levis was drafted in at centre-back, releasing Graham Canty to form a brilliant new midfield partnership, first with Nicholas Murphy and then Michéal O'Sullivan, who also proved a successful substitute.
In fact, the three Cork subs - Ciaran O'Sullivan, Levis and Michéal O'Sullivan soared to lofty heights. Canty improved out of all recognition with his move to midfield, as did Nicholas Murphy when he switched to wing-forward.
Captain Colin Crowley kicked two crucial points to put Cork level entering the closing quarter. Then Corkery converted two long-range frees and Ciaran O'Sullivan added his second score as Cork propelled their way into a three points lead.
But they were not out of the woods and it took a marvellous reflex save from goalkeeper Kevin O'Dwyer to deny Dave Russell an equalising goal two minutes from the end of normal time. O'Dwyer saved again, this time from David Russell, as Clare made a tremendous attempt to pull the game out of the fire.
But it was all over for the Bannermen when wing-back Eoin Sexton punched over the bar in stoppage time following Cork's best flowing movement of the game.
Scorers: Cork. C. Corkery 0-6 (0-5 from frees); C. O'Sullivan 0-2; C. Crowley 0-2; B. J. O'Sullivan, M. O'Croinin, A. Cronin, C. McCarthy and E. Sexton 0-1 each. Clare: Denis Russell 0-7 (0-5 from frees); A. Clohessy 0-2 (0-1 from free); R. Donnelly and David Russell 0-1 each.
CORK: K. O'Dwyer; S. O'Brien, D. Kavanagh, G. Murphy; E. Sexton, G, Canty, M. Cronin; D. Hurley, N. Murphy; A. Cronin, M. O'Croinin, C. McCarthy; C. Crowley, C. Corkery, B. J. O'Sullivan.
Subs: C. O'Sullivan for B. J. O'Sullivan; M. O'Sullivan for Hurley; S. Levis for Ó Cróinín; K. O'Sullivan for A. Cronin.
CLARE: D. O'Brien; P. Gallagher, C. Whelan, K. Dilleen; A. Clohessy, B. Considine, R. Slattery; David Russell, G. Quinlan; Denis Russell, S. Hickey, O. O'Dwyer; E. Coughlan, M. O'Shea, R. Donnelly. Subs. N. Griffen for Considine (injured); S. O'Meara for O'Dwyer; D. O'Sullivan for Hickey; Dave Russell for O'Shea.
Referee: S. McCormack (Meath).
