Clare 5-16 Cork 3-16

It was another EPIC game between Cork and Clare but this one was under floodlights on Saturday in Croke Park, where two young teams go face to face in front of a packed Croke Park. The atmosphere was electrifying before the match. Davy Fitzgerald made one change to his young Clare team, Shane O’ Donnell was in For Darach Honan at Full Forward. So it was Davy Fitz against Jimmy Barry Murphy, Clare V Cork under floodlights. The game started at a frantic pace with a class point for John Conlon. Clare scores a point from a free from Colin Ryan. Cork was not going to lie down with a point of Patrick Hogan.

Conor Lehane fought over a point but the Sub Shane O’ Donnell hit a superb goal against Anthony Nash of Cork. A soft free was awarded to Cork after a soft punch by Cian Dillon on Patrick Cronin. The Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash hit a rocket into the corner against No.12 Clare playing in the net but 16 minute Conor McGrath went throw and passed the sliotar to Shane O’ Donnell and Shane put the Sliotar in the net again. This was followed by a point from Tony Kelly aged 19. Cork’s full back Line was in trouble with a young bright Shane O’ Donnell hitting points for fun. And in the 18th minute a hat-trick for Shane O’ Donnell. A good point for Patrick Hogan kept Cork in tough by their teeth the half – time score was Clare 3-09 Cork 1-11. The 2nd half was tipping in Clare favourite and tipping Cork favourite to lift Liam McCarthy. Clare won a free and it was a point from Colin Ryan. Seamus Harnedy scored a super goal. After Conor  Lehane hit the ball at Patrick Kelly in the Clare goal and it went straight to Harnedy, he stuck it in the back of the Clare net. Clare went straight up the pitch and young Tony Kelly gave a hand pass to Podge Collins and he gave the sliotar to McGrath who hit a rocket into the top corner of the net no way Nash could not stop it.  With 2 minutes to play Clare backs were under pressure and Cronin passed the ball to Seamus Moylan and Moylan hit the sliotar into the back of the net. Clare was just 3 Points up but when Shane O’ Donnell hit his 3^Rd Point. Darach Honan came on for the 19 year old for Eire Óg, Ennis. The U21 Sean Morey hit the sliotar down the field, to Darach Honan who hit the ball down under Nash’s legs and the ball went into the back of the Cork’s net for the 5^th time.

Clare won The All-Ireland in a great game …… they won for their 4^th time ever!