THREE AND EASY FOR THE REBELS

Clare  0
Cork   3

Clare lost their second match in this years Inter League Youths Cup against Cork in Newmarket on Saturday. Clare suffered a blow before the game when goalkeeper Mike Fitzpatrick injured his hand in the warm-up. Fitzpatrick was replaced in goals by 15 year old Shane Cusack who despite having a nervous start went on to have a superb performance in goals.
Clare played against a storm in the first half and went behind on 5 minutes when a corner kick from Brian Murphy deceived everyone and went into the net. Cork had further chances to score early on with Jason Sexton and Eoin Kilcommons going close. Cusack made a brilliant save on 35 minutes when he dived full length to keep out a powerful low shot from Sexton to the right corner. Sexton had another great chance minutes later but dragged his shot the wrong side of the post when he looked certain to score. The committment from the Clare players was obvious for all to see. They were playing some good football and always looked dangerous on the break. Colm Treacy and Dean Ryan were putting in a lot of work at the back. David McCarthy had a shot just go over the bar on 40 minutes and when the half time whistle blew most Clare supporters in the crowd were feeling optimistic about the home sides chances in the second half.
The storm died down at the start of the second half as Clare were in the adcendency with McCarthy, Jason White, Eoin Hayes and Peter Barron playing well in midfield. McCarthy has a free kick from 30 yards hit the underside of the crossbar on 55 minutes and rebound to safety. Disaster struck on 65 minutes for the home side when possesion was lost in midfield and Cork caught them on the break with Eoin Kilcommons giving Cusack no chance from inside the box with a low left foot shot to the right corner. Kilcommons had another shot go narrowly wide moments later. Clare had a chance to get back in the game on 70 minutes when a shot from Barron was spilled by the Cork keeper but no one reaced in time and the chance was lost. Stephen McCarthy missed a great chance for Cork on 72 minutes when he sliced his shot with only Cusack to beat from 6 yards out. On 75 minutes Clare's Jason Sexton made a great run through the Cork defence and shot into the side net from an acute angle. Cusack was called on again moments later to make great saves from Kilcommons and Johnathan Spillane. On 80 minutes Cork wrapped up the points. Clare got the offside trap all wrong and substitute Eoin Forde crossed from the right for McCarthy to score. Clare had chances in the closing minutes to grab a consolation goal but efforts from Sean McConigley and substitute Killian Malone went over the crossbar. Clare have one match left in this years competition against Kerry Youths but they can no longer qualify for the knockout stages after this defeat.

Clare:
1. Shane Cusack (Newmarket)
2. Jason Sexton (Moher)
3. John Kerin (Moher)
4. Dean Ryan (Lifford)
5. Colm Treacy (Newmarket)
6. Peter Barnes (Newtown)
7. Jason Whyte (Bridge Utd)
8. David McCarthy (Lifford)
9. Kenneth Buckley (Newtown)
10. Eoin Hayes (Newmarket)
11. Sean McConigley (Moher)
12. Cillian Malone (Moher) for Whyte (inj)
13. Lunga Balman (Lifford) for Sexton
14. Andy Fitzgerald (Newmarket) for Buckley
15. Kieran Hackett (Newtown)
16. Liam Keane (Lifford)
17. Dan Reeves (Newtown)

Cork:
1. Wesley Tong
2. Ian Twaver
3. Brian Murphy
4. John Dineen
5. Richard O'Donovan
6. Daniel Sweeney
7. JOhnathan Spillane
8. Jason Sexton
9. Stephen McCarthy
10. Eoin Kilcommons
11. Patrick O'Brien
12. Paul Mosley
13. Ben Hablin for Spillane
14. Liam Doyle
15. Eoin Forde for Sweeney
16. Keith O'Sullivan for O'Brien