Massive comeback sees Cork take 4th U20 title in six years
Cork 1-23 Clare 1-21
Cork and Clare played out a thriller in the Munster U20 O’Neill’s.com Hurling final at TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Monday evening. Clare had wind advantage in the first half.
Ben Cunningham opened the scoring with a first minute free. Jack O’Neill levelled soon after. The Banner County hit the front when Keith Smyth pointed a free. Cork’s Tadhg O’Connell levelled at 0-2 each. Clare then hit a good patch with Patrick Crotty pointing and Keith Smyth, with a free, opened up a 2 point lead.
Cork fired wide from Diarmuid Healy, but William Buckley with a fine point replied for the Rebels. In the 12th minute Michael Mullins soloed through and placed Ross O’Sullivan who levelled at 0-4 each.
Cork now gained supremacy for a period. Colin Walsh pointed and Ben Cunningham with a free made it 0-6 to 0-4. Good play by Ross O’Sullivan led to a fine Colin Walsh point. Oisin O’Donnell kept the Banner in touch with a fine point. In the 15th minute, Cork had their goal when Michael Mullins soloed through and netted, edging the winners double scores ahead 1-7 to 0-5.
Clare regrouped well - Keith Smyth pointed two frees with Ross O’Sullivan replying for Cork. Senan Dunford and David Kennedy were off target for Clare. Ben Cunningham pointed a free and he had another close in free well saved by Clare keeper, Aaron Shanahan. In the 24th minute, Keith Smyth with a free cut the lead to 1-9 to 0-8.
Darragh O’Sullivan then worked well for Diarmuid Healy who pointed for Cork. Ben Cunningham pointed a ‘65 and Clare had a point from Sean Rynne. Further Clare pressure yielded a point from Sean Rynne. Patrick Crotty pointed and the lead at half-time was down to four points - 1-11 to 0-10.
Cork introduced Timmy Wilk for the second half. Clare were quick to wipe out the lead, Smyth, Crotty and O’Neill thundered into the game. Points by Keith Smyth and Oisin O’Donnell were followed by a Sean Rynne goal in the 34th minute that levelled 1-12 each.
Jack O’Neill placed Patrick Crotty for a lead point and Keith Smyth added one from a free. Ben Cunningham had a long range point, but was off target from a ‘65. Keelan Hartigan and Keith Smyth (free) opened up a lead of 1- 16 to 1-13 for Clare. Substitute Niall O’Farrell edged Clare four ahead after 45 minutes and both sides exchanged two points each, as the game hit the 50th minute. William Buckley and Ben Cunningham had points for Cork. Keith Smyth and Jack Leahy swopped points. Niall Farrell was narrowly wide for Clare with Ben Cunningham following with a great point.
Both sides made a number of substitutions. Ben Cunningham landed the equaliser from a long range free, now 1-20 apiece. Healy edged Cork ahead and the Rebels held a two point lead entering injury time. Keith Smyth had another free. Cork had the final score, a Ben Cunnimgham free, that saw them winners following a marvellous contest.
Cork: Brian Saunderson (Midleton), Darragh O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig), Shane Kingston (Ballinora), Mark Howell (Douglas), Michael Mullins (capt – Whitechurch, 1-0), Ben O’Connor (St Finbarr’s), James O’Dwyer (Ballincollig), Tadhg O’Connell (Ballincollig – 0-3), Sean Daly (Randal Og), Ben Cunningham (St. Finbarr’s - 0-9, 0-6f., 0-1 ‘65), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold – 0-3), William Buckley (St. Finbarr’s – 0-2), Ross O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh – 0-2), David Cremin (Midleton), Colin Walsh (Kanturk – 0-2). Subs: Timmy Wilk (Cobh) for Sean Daly, Adam O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig – 0-1) for David Cremin, Jack Leahy (Dungourney – 0-1) for Colin Walsh.
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).