Brave Clare come up clutch to shock Cork and seal All-Ireland final berth
Ger O'Connell hailed his Clare team for their brave finish to spring an All-Ireland semi-final shock on Munster champions Cork.
The sides were level 11 times in front of 2,855 fans at Semple Stadium, but the Banner were more assured at the death, despite hitting 14 wides.
Their clever passing moves cut through Cork around the middle and created a steady flow of scoring chances.
In an absorbing last-four clash, Paul Rodgers, the younger brother of senior star Mark, topped the scoring charts. He tallied 0-13, including 10 frees and an exceptional sideline cut from close to the 65.
Ben Talty and Ian O'Brien were other major contributors, while Dara Kennedy performed the dual function of defensive anchor and attacking springboard.
'We've made so many mistakes trying to work the ball. You'd have lads saying just hit the fecking ball. But we're trying to encourage these guys to play,' said O'Connell.
'Under pressure, we really showed quality on the ball. Coming off the shoulder when the easy thing to do would have been to lump a ball.
'We've really tried to encourage the boys to do the right thing. Make mistakes. That's okay. They're young lads. They're going to make them.
'The boys came up trumps in the last 5-10 minutes. They're a brilliant bunch and I'm so proud.'
A weekend of upsets results in a novel All-Ireland final pairing. The 2023 champions will meet Waterford in a fortnight for the third-ever all-Munster final.
For Cork, Cormac Deane scored 1-2 and assisted six points, Eoghan O'Shea struck 0-5, and free-taker Craig O'Sullivan tallied 0-8.
Callum Coffey scored a hat-trick in their Munster round-robin victory over the same opponents, but injury reduced him to a bench role here.
'The better team on the day won,' reflected Cork manager Fergal McCormack, who now hands over to U16 boss Donal Mulcahy.
'We've a great bunch, and they've done everything that we could possibly ask of them. Even down to the last minute, I had belief that our fellas would come good.
'But Clare dug in there, got their scores, and turned us over a few times, which was tough to take. They seemed to be playing triangles, which got the better of us a few times.'
Cork started slow, and even Deane's fifth-minute goal couldn't immediately lift them. The Killeagh youngster cut onto his left and blasted a low shot from the 21 to the net for a 1-1 to 0-3 lead.
Leon Talty denied him a second goal, by which time Clare had rebuilt a three-point lead. They were sparked by three in a row from Rodgers, and all six forwards were on the board by half-time.
They led 0-15 to 1-10, but Cork were back in front by the 33rd minute as O'Sullivan's brace bookended Deane's second point.
The sides were level six times in the third quarter, with Rodgers' frees accounting for four Banner points.
Substitute Jack Counihan got a first-touch point in the 44th minute, which proved to be Cork's final lead.
The Banner were working the sliotar better and they produced a decisive move with four points out of five between the 51st and 58th minutes. Liam Murphy, O'Brien, and two Rodgers frees made it a 0-26 to 1-20 lead.
Cork weren't done yet as Michael T Brosnan's third point and O'Shea's fifth left one between the sides entering stoppage time.
But Niall Doyle drew the free for Rodgers' insurance score.
Scorers for Clare: P Rodgers (0-13, 10 frees, 1 s/l); B Talty, I O'Brien (0-3 each); R Ralph, L Murphy (0-2 each); D Kennedy, E Cleary, J O'Donnell, J Barry (0-1 each).
Scorers for Cork: C O'Sullivan (0-8, 6 frees); C Deane (1-2); E O'Shea (0-5); MT Brosnan (0-3, 1 free); S Ring (0-2); R Dineen, J Counihan (0-1 each).
CLARE: L Talty (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); J O'Halloran (Sixmilebridge), Z Phelan (Sixmilebridge), N Doyle (Éire Óg Ennis); E Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus), D Kennedy (Ballyea), C Daly (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); G Ball (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield, captain), E Cleary (Ballyea); J O'Donnell (Broadford), R Ralph (Clarecastle), I O'Brien (Cratloe); B Talty (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), P Rodgers (Scariff), L Murphy (O'Callaghan's Mills).
Subs: E O'Connor (Ballyea) for Talty (9-13, temp), J Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Ralph (36), O'Connor for Talty (51), G Marshall (Parteen-Meelick) for O'Donnell (58), D Murrihy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Daly (60+4).
CORK: TC Walsh (Aghada); C Lawton (Midleton), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), D Heavin (Russell Rovers); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Carroll (Dromina, capt), C Garde (Lisgoold); TA Walsh (Carrigtwohill), R Dineen (Erin's Own); C O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), C Deane (Killeagh), R Donovan (Fermoy); S Coughlan (Passage), E O'Shea (Ballinhassig), S Ring (Carrigtwohill).
Subs: J Counihan (Watergrasshill) for Coughlan (43), C Coffey (Na Piarsaigh) for Dineen (52), A Dunlea (Sarsfields) for TA Walsh (60).
Referee: C Doyle (Tipperary).
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