Clare 0-31
Cork 2-23
(After extra-time)

Clare have retained their Allianz Hurling League Division 1A status following a dramatic extra-time victory over Cork at the Gaelic Grounds.

Davy Fitzgerald's underdogs were forced to come from behind on a number of occasions before eventually wearing down their opponents in extra-time. Colin Ryan and Tony Kelly were in fine scoring form as the Banner showed the greater desire to preserve their top-flight status.

Cork can have no excuses after surrendering a five-point lead in the wake of Luke O'Farrell's 53rd minute goal. Even after Clare - who shot 22 wides - had battled back to take the lead in the closing stages of normal time, a second goal from Pa Cronin put the Rebels in a winning position again, but they couldn't hold on as the Banner grabbed the last two points to force extra-time.

The score at full-time was 0-23 to 2-17.

Clare led by 0-27 to 2-19 at the end of the first period of extra-time and they maintained their advantage in the second period to relegate Jimmy Barry-Murphy's men.

Watched by about 3,500 spectators, Luke O'Farrell and John Conlon exchanged early points before scores from Daniel Kearney and Patrick Horgan (free) edged Cork into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Colin Ryan made it a one-point game before the Rebels opened up a 0-6 to 0-2 lead thanks to efforts from Pa Cronin, Horgan and Conor O'Sullivan.

Free-taker Colin Ryan halved the deficit in the 17th minute before Clare made further inroads into the Cork lead through points from Ryan and Tony Kelly. Patrick Horgan raised a couple of white flags at the other end to give Jimmy Barry-Murphy's side a 0-8 to 0-6 lead after 31 minutes.

Substitute Conor McGrath reduced the deficit to the minimum, but four unanswered points from Cronin (two), Conor Lehane and Horgan left Cork four points in front, 0-11 to 0-7, at the interval.

Stephen Moylan and John Conlon traded early second half points before Horgan slotted his sixth free. Colm Galvin replied with a 42nd minute point for the Banner, but three more Horgan scores put daylight between the sides.

Clare rallied with points from Galvin and Ryan (three) to cut the gap to two, 0-14 to 0-16, before they were rocked back on their heels when Luke Farrell netted in the 17th minute of the second half to give them a five-point cushion.

The Banner mustered a terrific response which saw them outscore their Munster rivals by 0-7 to 0-1 to take a 0-21 to 1-17 lead with four minutes remaining. Ryan, Podge Collins and Patrick O'Connor were all on target as the pendulum swung back in Clare's favour.

But the game took another dramatic twist in the 68th minute when Pa Cronin scored Cork's second goal to edge them into a 2-17 to 0-21 lead. Clare refused to throw in the towel, though, and after Tony Kelly had brought the margin down to the minimum, Conor McGrath earned a late free on the 20-metre line which Ryan coolly slotted over to force extra-time.

Cian McCarthy and Conor McGrath traded points on the resumption before Horgan gave Cork a 2-19 to 0-24 lead. But they weren't to score again in the first period as unanswered points from Alan O'Neill, Colin Ryan and Colm Galvin gave Clare a three-point advantage.

Tony Kelly and Cathal Naughton exchanged further points at the start of the second period before Clare got on top again with scores from Ryan, substitute Fergal Lynch and John Conlon. Luke O'Farrell and Horgan replied for Cork, but they ran out of time and are now facing the prospect of playing in Division 1B next year.

Clare - P Kelly (0-1f); D O Donovan, D McInerney, S Morey; B Bugler, P Donnellan, P O'Connor; C Galvin (0-3), Conor Ryan; J Conlon (0-4), T Kelly (0-6), Colin Ryan (0-10, 6f); D Honan (0-2), S O'Donnell, P Collins (0-1). Subs: C McGrath (0-2) for Conor Ryan, P Duggan for Collins, C McInerney (0-1) for O'Donnell, J Clancy for Honan, F Lynch (0-1) for Duggan, S O'Donnell for Clancy.

Cork - A Nash; K Murphy, B Murphy, C O'Sullivan (0-1); S White, C Joyce, W Egan; L McLoughlin, D Kearney (0-1); C Lehane (0-1), P Cronin (1-3), P O'Sullivan; S Moylan (0-1), L O'Farrell (1-2), P Horgan (0-11, 7f). Subs: T Kenny for Kearney, C McCarthy (0-1) for Moylan, C Spillane for K Murphy, C Naughton (0-2) for White, B Hartnett for P O'Sullivan, P O'Brien for Lehane.

Referee - J McGrath. Tweet

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