Cork and Clare share spoils in tense affair on Leeside

Cork and Clare shared the spoils in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Allianz Division 2 clash after a tight and tense encounter that was level on seven occasions.

It was Clare substitute Daniel Walsh that levelled matters for the final time with the clock in the red though Cork's Mark Cronin had the opportunity to sneak a win for the Rebels with a free from distance, but his effort dropped short.

Cork played into the wind, the rain and the City End in the first-half and were the better side in the opening quarter, but struggled to make it tell significantly enough on the scoreboard.

John O’Rourke and Brain Hurley kicked the hosts into an early lead with fine scores from play, but Keelan Sexton soon had the Banner men level. Blake Murphy nudged Cork back in front, but three wides-in-a-row and a Jamie Malone point levelled matters in the eighteenth minute.

Quick-fire scores from Murphy and Hurley then restored Cork’s advantage before David Tubridy’s opening score and a free from Sexton restored parity.

Murphy raised a white flag but Clare then began take control as the Rebels struggled to advance the ball into scoring positions.

Eoin Cleary tapped over a free, Cian O’Dea pushed them ahead for the first time in the contest with a super score from distance before two well struck Sexton placed balls gave the Banner a 0-9 to 0-6 lead at the break.

The second half opened like a game of chess as both sides patiently tried to find gaps in the respective defences.

Cork’s Seán Powter was the first to do so as his long range free fortuitously bounced over the bar, but this was quickly cancelled out by a free from Cleary. Cork then hit a purple patch, reeling off three in-a-row from Hurley, Fionn Herlihy and Kevin O’Donovan.

Aaron Griffin and Cork