A RUST WIN ENCOUNTER
Cork & Clare blow cobwebs off as Rebels nick the victory
BRIAN LOHAN summed it up best this week when he said: “There’s no glory in January, just hard work.”
To that end, Cork and Clare had a useful Munster Hurling League rust-buster which was swung the Rebels’ direction by Conor Lehane’s first-minute goal.
Cork had the more experienced team out and created far more chances but sprayed 22 wides compared to just three from the visitors.
Such issues can be quickly fixed but the longerlasting collateral damage ahead of the League was a suspected broken bone in Declan Dalton’s foot.
The Fr O’neills forward had just recovered from the same injury, albeit in his other foot, to return to action over Christmas. He was introduced as a halftime substitute but limped off seven minutes later.
“I’d say it is a metatarsal injury,” stated Pat Ryan. “It’s disappointing. Deccie had a metatarsal at the end of the year from the club as well on the opposite foot.
“He’s a big, strong man so it’s disappointing. We’ll get that assessed tomorrow.”
Lehane was also rested at half-time after dispatching 1-3, while Shane Kingston was most accurate in an otherwise wasteful showing, scoring 0-8 from nine shots, including four from play.
“We created an awful lot of opportunities but our shooting was off,” said Ryan (above). “Making the wrong decision at times, not taking the ball on, shooting off the back foot an awful lot.
“We’d be disappointed with that side of things but there’s plenty to work on over the next couple of weeks.”
Robbie Cotter, who clipped four from play, was among the newcomers Ryan singled out for praise alongside Brion Saunderson, Cathal Mccarthy, and Eoin Carey.
The likes of Damien and Conor Cahalane and Niall O’leary, who had been on club duty with Castlehaven and Castlelyons respectively, will return to the panel later this month.
“The two Cahalanes have had a hectic schedule and were both carrying knocks into the Castlehaven game but I don’t think any Cahalane ever missed a game for Castlehaven,” Ryan added. “They’re great young fellas and they’ll be back in the next three or four weeks for us.
We’ll give them two weeks off and then ease them back into it.”
Clare looked defeated when
1-22 to 0-18 behind with 11 minutes remaining but reeled off the next six points, including a pair for substitute Keith Smyth, to leave one in the difference.
Frees from Darragh Flynn and debutant goalkeeper Saunderson made Cork’s win safe.
Lohan’s fresh-faced team featured debuts for Tadhg Dean, Aidan Moriarty, Cian Barron, and Killian O’connor, plus first starts for another handful of hopefuls.
He will have some tough decisions to make in the coming week, carrying a squad of 55 players which will be trimmed to 35 by the start of the League.