Cork into Munster U20 hurling semi-final after late surge against Clare

Cork 1-24 Clare 0-22

Cork are the first side to cement their place in the last three of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship after protecting their flawless start thanks to a powerful finish in Cusack Park, Ennis.

An attendance of 1,488 were treated to an anxious encounter that was level 11 times, with the lead changing hands on eight occasions before Cork eventually made a break for the line with the only goal of the game in the 55th minute.

It stemmed from an Eoin Downey defensive free that was superbly caught by the impressive David Cremin who offloaded to Ben Cunningham to flick to the net at 1-20 to 0-19.

Clare never recovered from that body-blow and in truth will more likely point to missed opportunities of their own that included seven frees as the main source of their frustrations in such a tight contest.

An early brace of Diarmuid Healy points helped the wind-assisted visitors settle into a 0-o6 to 0-02 advantage by the ten minute mark, only to lose their way as Clare moved swiftly through the gears. Nine of the next eleven points followed for the hosts including an eye-catching hat-trick of Oisin O'Donnell points as the Banner edged 0-12 to 0-11 in front by the break.

The second half was an exceedingly tense end-to-end slugfest that saw the sides deadlocked eight times before Cunningham's decisive late intervention.

It means that Cork are guaranteed a semi-final berth at a minimum, with a place in the final up for grabs if they can overcome Limerick in the final round on Friday week. Clare meanwhile will have to depend on others to confirm their passage to the last three, with a Limerick away victory over Tipperary this Friday sufficient to send their Shannonside neighbours into a penultimate stage spot.

Cork: Brion