Cork 0-26

Clare 3-27

Venue: Pairc Uí Rinn, Cork

Clare travelled to Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday evening for a challenge game against Cork in preparation for the Munster Senior Hurling Championship clash with Limerick on June 4th.

Clare joint managers Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney rang in the changes with their starting 15 which showed 11 changes from the team that lined out in the Division 1 Relegation Playoff win over Dublin at Cusack Park earlier this month.

Captain Patrick O’Connor (Tubber) and Conor McGrath (Cratloe), both having recovered fully from shoulder operations, lined out at full-back and right corner-forward respectively. Ballyea’s Niall Deasy made his first start for the senior team while Shane O’Donnell was named at full forward having recovered from a minor knee operation in early March.

Sunday evening’s friendly fixture is one of three scheduled for the Clare senior hurlers before June 4th.

Clare went in 1-15 to 0-13 at half time with the Clare goal coming from Tony Kelly after 32 minutes. Clare should have been much further ahead if Anthony Nash hadn’t denied point blank efforts by Peter Duggan, Conor McGrath and Kelly.

Clare maintained their lead for all of the second half but Cork through Conor Lehane (0-8 points) narrowed the gap to just 2 points with 15 minutes to go . Cork however, only scored two further points as goals by Tony Kelly and substitute John Conlon helped Clare to a 10 point win.

CLARE SCORERS:
Niall Deasy 0-10 (8f), Tony Kelly (2-4), John Conlon (1-2), Colm Galvin (0-2), Patrick Donnellan (0-2), Peter Duggan, Shane O’Donnell, Jason McCarthy, Gearoid O’Connell, Aaron Cunningham, Cian Dillon, Cathal Malone, Jack Browne (0-1 each).

CLARE STARTING 15: 1 Donal Tuohy, 2 Jack Browne, 3 Patrick O’Connor (C), 4 Paul Flanagan, 5 Gearoid O’Connell, 6 David McInerney, 7 Patrick Donnellan, 8 Colm Galvin, 9 Jason McCarthy, 10 Peter Duggan, 11 Tony Kelly, 12 Niall Deasy, 13 Conor McGrath, 14 Shane O’Donnell, 15 Bobby Duggan.

Substitutions:

Seadna Morey for Jack Browne, 49 mins

John Conlon for Bobby Duggan, 49 mins

Conor Cleary for David McInerney, 49 mins

David Reidy for Jason McCarthy, 52 mins

Cathal Malone for Peter Duggan, 56 mins

Eoin Quirke for Paul Flanagan, 58 mins

Shane McNamara for Gearoid O’Connell, 61 mins

Aaron Cunningham for Shane O’Donnell, 64 mins

Cian Dillon for Patrick Donnellan, 65 mins

REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)