Clare Win 2013 All-Ireland Trophy - Clare (5-16) 31-25 Cork (3-16) - UPDATED! | |
06 October 2013 Clare won the 2013 All-Ireland hurling championship for the fourth time with a stunning (5-16) 31- 25 (3-16) replay victory over Cork at Croke Park on Saturday 28 September 2013. Shane O'Donnell started in attack for Clare as he replaced Darach Honan for this thrilling 5pm throw-in. It proved to be an inspired decision by Banner coach Davy Fitzgerald and the 19 year old from the Eire Og club in Ennis was to become the Clare hero, racking up 18 points (3-3) - more than half their over-all total, as he added an All-Ireland medal to the All-Ireland U21 medal he won in Thurles just two weeks earlier. Both teams flew out of the blocks from the throw-in of this much anticipated clash and Clare’s John Conlon hit the opening point with Shane O'Donnell doubled their advantage moments later to make it Clare (0-2) 2-0 (0-0) Cork. Conor McGrath put Clare back in front before captain Pat Donnellan brilliantly soloed through the middle of the Cork defence before playing in Shane O'Donnell who tucked the ball to the bottom right hand corner of the net, leaving Anthony Nash helpless, as he made it Clare (1-3) 6-2 (0-2).Cork. Clare turned the screw and another Colin Ryan free extended their advantage before Conor McGrath set up Shane O'Donnell who blasted home his second goal of the final to make it Clare (2-5) 11-4 (0-4) Cork with 12 minutes played. Colin Ryan and Patrick Horgan exchanged points from frees to make it Clare (2-6) 12-9 (1-6) Cork. Shane O'Donnell was proving the difference between the sides though and he punished some slack defending before slamming the ball unto the ground and past Nash to complete his hat-trick and make it Clare (3-6) 15-9 (1-6) Cork. Patrick Horgan pulled a goal back for Cork before Clare emphasised their hold on the game as the excellent Tony Kelly and a couple of Colin Ryan frees made it Clare (3-9) 18-10 (1-7) Cork. But the Rebels held their nerve and they grabbed the last four points of the first half to get themselves back in the game. Seamus Harnedy put the ball over the bar after Cork captain Patrick Cronin deflected a high ball into his path. There was a tense wait as referee James MacGrath requested use of the Hawk-Eye facility before a further point from Pa Cronin was confirmed. Patrick Horgan then added two more points to end a breathless first half at Clare (3-9) 18-14 (1-11) Cork. Clare’s brilliant youngster Tony Kelly showed his class to score a terrific opening second half point which made it Clare (3-10) 19-14 (1-11) Cork. However Cork were to enjoy their most profitable period of the match and they found the next five points of the final through substitute Stephen Moylan and four points from Shinty / Hurling international Patrick Horgan which made it all-square at Clare (3-10) 19-19 (1-16) Cork with 53 minutes played. Fergal Lynch, who was to retire following the final, made a brief appearance as a temporary Clare substitute for Stephen O'Donnell for a couple of minutes on 50 minutes before Shane O’Donnell came back on the field. The outcome was back in the melting pot and Shane O’Donnell put Clare back in front, Clare (3-11) 20-19 (1-16) Cork. Clare added to their tally as John Conlon and Colin Ryan put them three points ahead Clare (3-13) 22-19 (1-16) Cork. Cork are made of stern stuff though and they squared the final once more when Clare keeper Patrick Kelly saved Conor Lehane shot but Seamus Harnedy crashed the rebound into the back of the net to make it Clare (3-13) 22-22 (2-16) Cork with an hour played. The pace was relentless and Clare got themselves back in front when Conor McGrath, who was excellent throughout, won possession and burst forward before his expertly executed effort left Anthony Nash helpless and made the score Clare (4-13) 25-22 (2-16) Cork. Tony Kelly added to the Clare support’s joy with a point from midfield and when Stephen O’Donnell took his tally to three goals and three points and Colin Ryan added a further point, the six point gap was Clare (4-16) 28-22 (2-16) Cork. And, with the clock running down, Clare had one hand on the Liam MacCarthy Cup. John Barry-Murphy’s Cork side made a last push and when Stephen Moylan scored in injury-time to make it Clare (4-16) 28-25 (3-16) Cork, the Clare support could barely watch. Cork went in search of the goal that would ensure another tied outcome but instead it was Clare who broke away and substitute Darach Honan took a ball out of defence from substitute Seadna Morey and he ran at the Cork defence before bundling the ball over the line to ensure a first Banner Liam McCarthy Cup success since 1997. GAA President Liam O’Neill presented the Liam MacCarthy Cup to Clare captain Pat Donnellan as the Banner support voiced their approval. Clare Scorers: Shane O'Donnell (3-3), Colin Ryan (0-7), Conor McGrath (1-1), Tony Kelly (0-3), Darach Honan (1-0), John Conlon (0-2) Cork Scorers: Patrick Horgan (0-9), Seamus Harnedy (1-2), Stephen Moylan (1-1), Anthony Nash (1-0), Conor Lehane (0-2), Lorcan McLoughlin 0-1, Pa Cronin (0-1) Clare: Patrick Kelly; Domhnall O'Donovan, David McInerney, Cain Dillon; Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan (captain), Pat O’Connor; Conor Ryan, Colm Galvin (Cathal McInerney 52); John Conlon, Tony Kelly (Seadna Morey 71) Colin Ryan; Podge Collins (Nicky O'Connell 59), Shane O'Donnell (Darach Honan 66), Conor McGrath Cork: Anthony Nash; Stephen McDonnell (K Murphy 67), Shane O'Neill, Conor O'Sullivan; Brian Murphy, Christopher Joyce, William Egan (Stephen White 23); Lorcan McLoughlin, Daniel Kearney (Tom Kenny 35); Seamus Harnedy, Cain McCarthy (Cathal Naughton 55), Pa Cronin; Luke O'Farrell (Stephen Moylan 35), Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath) Attendance: 82,276
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