Here’s how the sides will start:
Cork
1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
2. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
3. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
4. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)
5. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
7. Mark Coleman (Blarney)
8. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
9. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)
10. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
11. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
12. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
15. Luke Meade (Newcestown)
Clare
1. Andrew Fahy (Whitegate)
2. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
3. David McInerney (Tulla)
4. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber – captain)
5. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
7. Oisín O’Brien (Clonlara)
8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
10. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
11. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
12. John Conlon (Clonlara)
13. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
14. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
15. Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
We’re underway in Semple Stadium. Clare will play against the breeze for the opening half.
Cork 0-1 Clare 0-0
1 min – Alan Cadogan is in flying form lately and he gives the Rebels an early lead.
Cork 0-3 Clare 0-2
8 mins – Brilliant score by Patrick Horgan edges Cork back in front. John Conlon hits a wide at the far end – that’s Clare’s third.
Cork 0-3 Clare 0-3
11 mins – Cathal Malone’s kick at goal rebounds off the outside of the post, but Podge Collins sends it over.
GOAL! Alan Cadogan hits the net for Cork!
Cork 1-3 Clare 0-4
12 mins – Beautiful stick work by Cadogan there and a fine finish. He’s got 1-1 already today. Tony Kelly responds with a superb point from distance at the far end.
Cork 1-3 Clare 0-5
16 mins – Tony Kelly’s free is accurate and raises a white flag. Clare have responded well to the goal.
Cork 1-4 Clare 0-6
22 mins – Cork hadn’t scored for 11 minutes when Lehane nailed an effort from midfield.
Cork 1-5 Clare 0-6
24 mins – Darragh Fitzgibbon scores after a short sideline by Horgan.
Cork 1-6 Clare 0-6
28 mins – Horgan slots over a free from a tight angle. It’s been a low-scoring first-half so far with scores at a premium.
Cork 1-8 Clare 0-7
32 mins – Tony Kelly hits a free after a run of five straight Cork scores. Jason McCarthy replaces Oisin O’Brien on the Clare team.
Alan Cadogan’s goal earlier:
Clare’s tally of wides increases to seven as we enter additional time at the end of the first-half.
Cork 1-9 Clare 0-8
35+2 mins – John Conlon reduces the gap to three but Horgan cancels it out moments later from a free. That’s his third.
Cork 1-10 Clare 0-8
35+2 mins – Horgan could score frees like this with his eyes closed.
Cork 1-10 Clare 0-8 – HT
Cork 1-10 Clare 0-9
36 mins – Anthony Nash makes a good save from Conor McGrath but Arron Shanagher takes his score to reduce the gap to four.
Cork 1-13 Clare 0-11
42 mins – Kelly and Horgan swap frees. The latter score was engineered by a wonderful probing run by Kingston. Cian Dillon comes in for Patrick O’Connor.
Cork 1-14 Clare 0-12
45 mins – Lehane makes a superb catch in the air and Horgan slots over the resultant free.
Cork 1-15 Clare 0-12
50 mins – Cadogan leaps high to claim a stunning catch and wins a free. Horgan applies the finish.
Cork 1-16 Clare 0-13
53 mins – Tony Kelly arrows over Clare’s first score from play in nine minutes. It’s goals they need though.
GOAL! Clare’s Conor McGrath drills a low strike past Anthony Nash!
Cork 1-16 Clare 1-14
55 mins – Shane Kingston is booked. Clare are right back in this game now. Then Tony Kelly launches over a huge point from midfield!
Cork 1-17 Clare 1-14
56 mins – Fantastic leadership by Cadogan to score off his left under pressure.
Cork 1-18 Clare 1-14
57 mins – Coleman puts a great ball into Horgan who converts the chance. Cork lead by four.
Cork 1-19 Clare 1-15
58 mins – A great score from John Conlon brings Clare back to within three. Fitzgibbon hits a wide at the far end but Cork are awarded a free. Horgan’s strike is good.
Cork 1-21 Clare 1-17
63 mins – Coleman slots over a wonderful sideline while McCarthy responds with one at the far end.
Cork 1-22 Clare 1-17
65 mins – Coleman glides forward and pops one over from way out the field.
Cork 1-22 Clare 1-20
69 mins – Conor McGrath leaves two between them. We’re in the final minute of normal time.
Cork 1-23 Clare 1-20
71 mins – Cahalane makes a break forward from the full-back line and Horgan points.
Cork 1-24 Clare 1-20
73 mins – Cadogan floats a classy point over. The title is surely Cork’s now!
Cork 1-25 Clare 1-20 – FT
Cork are Munster champions!
Blame the players, Blame the fans, Blame the Ref, Blame the IRFU, Blame the Media. But what ever you do do not blame the Coach. Nothing to do with him.
It’s not him, it’s us, Ah, the ultimate kiss of death to any coach.
Bullshit
Fellas just aren’t doing enough
Would mean a lot more if CJ, Murray, POM etc came out and said this rather than an underperforming London Irish reserve who was given a cushy contract from his old buddy.
Or a player who has represented Munster almost 150 times, won two Heineken cups with them and a grand slam with Ireland and you’ve been giving Leinster fans grief for how long about gopperth?
Don’t forget he was selected for the Lions in 09 before he suffered a horrific injury.
We have been blaming the players…one or two for almost 2 years now. Yet the coaching staff still picks them as if there’s no wrong they can do while at the same time getting rid of much better ones.
Well said, all you’ve to do is look at how well they are playing in English and French leagues.
It was true when the Leinster boys said it last year and it’s true now.
Bad enough letting this clown play never mind talking. In every game he does something brain dead.
Please name some alternatives? This ‘clown’ has on several occasions been instrumental to Munster and Ireland’s success be it at scrum half or filling in at outside center and wing.. he’s not perfect but he deserves your respect
Kicking the ball out of touch against leinster in 2011 when the clock hit. He kicks possession away time and again .His shove against redden the last day was also hilarious . He just doesn’t use his head a dangerous thing in a position so tactical so in other words anyone could replace him.
“Has” that’s the key word.
Who would you prefer so Duncan Williams.
peter stringer isn’t playing too badly these days. i reckon a two year deal would have been possible.
Axel! We want Munster men playing Munster style rugby! Forget that c…n
Penney! We play territory and intensity/
support running! In their 22!
Simple game! Play in their half! Support the runner! Territory! Mauls, line outs controlled mauls! Finishing! Intensity when required and finally defence structures! Whoever hired McGahan/Penney regressed Munster! Axel! Pleeeze go back to what we love! You played a Munster style game for many years! Let’s have it back! recruitment! Munster men only! Ok 1 or 2 TOP class
Imports! Not rejects & journeymen! Axel
We want/need the Real Munster! You know how! Just do it!
I feel your pain Bill, you get a new smart phone for Christmas & can’t find the full stop for the first 2 weeks.(!)