Cork pass first Munster U20 football test - beating Clare by nine points in Quilty
Cork's Manager Ray O'Mahony on the sideline during the match in Quilty. Picture: Eamon Ward
Cork passed their first Munster Under 20 test after keeping their obstinate hosts at arm’s length to get an early leg up in Phase 2 in Páirc Naomh Mhuire In Quilty on Tuesday evening.
Despite having three championship matches under their belt along with home advantage, Clare certainly tested the Rebels’ ring-rustiness with a combative first half display into the strong gale to only go in trailing by 2-8 to 1-6 by the interval.
However, it was a complete role reversal on the turnover as Ray O’Mahony’s side reshuffled their pack and would outscore their sleepy hosts by 0-7 to 0-1 in a crucial third quarter.
Danny Miskella (1-4) and Dylan O’Neill (1-3) were Cork’s ever-impressive threats throughout, with the latter providing a settling opening goal after only eleven minutes. A second solo goal for wing-back Sean O’Leary a minute later seemed decisive at 2-2 to 0-1 but it would be immediately cancelled out by the Banner after senior panelist Sean McAllister fielded the kick-out and drove at the heart of the visitors’ defence before offloading to Odhran O’Connell to finish to the net.
Sean Fennell’s frees kept the home side in touch while Cork goalkeeper Billy Curtin came to his side’s rescue to prevent Daire Culligan from goaling. However, a superb two-pointer from Danny Miskella ensured a five point half-time gap that Cork only extended on the resumption led by O’Neill, Miskella and Bryan Hayes who just cleared the crossbar at 2-15 to 1-07.
Clare had further goal chances of their own for Sean Fennell and Sean Conneally thwarted once more by Curtin but did manage to lessen the damage to six before Miskella countered with the clinching goal deep into injury-time to seal a merited competitive bow for the provincial minor equivalent winners.
D Miskella 1-4 (1tp); D O’Neill 1-3 (1f); S O’Leary 1-1; B Hayes 0-3 (1f); A O’Connell, D Sheedy (1f) 0-2 each; D Harrington 0-1.
S Fennell 0-5 (4f); O O’Connell 1-0; D Killeen, C Fennell (1tpf) 0-2 each; C Riordan, L Pyne, D Culligan (f), D Townsend 0-1 each.
B Curtin (Valley Rovers); N O’Shea (Urhan), C Molloy (Nemo Rangers), F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa); C Clifford (Éire Óg), G Daly (Mallow), S O’Leary (Kilmurry); M Woods (Valley Rovers), C Gillespie (Aghabullogue); A O’Connell (Kilshannig), D Sheedy (Bantry Blues), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue); D Miskella (Ballincollig), B Hayes (Nemo Rangers), D O’Neill (Carbury Rangers).
D Harrington (Clonakilty) for Hurley (HT), D Clifford (Éire Óg) for Daly (HT), D Gough (Clonakilty) for Sheedy (50, inj), T Culhane (Carbery Rangers) for Hayes (52), K McCarthy (Carrigaline) for O’Connell (59).
C Howard (Éire Óg); M Kelly (Lissycasey), D Hill (Lissycasey), S Conneally (Clooney-Quin); C O’Donovan (Corofin), C Hill (Lissycasey), L Pyne (Éire Óg); E Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), S McAllister (Clondegad); O O’Connell (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), S Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks), D Killeen (Lissycasey); D Culligan (Lissycasey), C Riordan (Wolfe Tones), S McMahon (Banner).
R Fitzpatrick (St Breckan’s) for C. Hill (38, inj), E Wragg (Lissycasey) for Kelly (39), C Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks) for McMahon (40), D Townsend (Cooraclare) for O’Connell (46), C Hannan (St St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for C. Fennell (56, inj).
J Hayes (Limerick).
