Eventually, it had to come, the dam finally had to break with the sheer volume of goal chances that had battered both defensive walls in the opening 33 minutes. Eoin Downey played a sideline into the path of William Buckley, who slipped Rory Hayes before careering down the central channel to set up Brian Hayes, who drove the ball past Eibhear Quilligan.

That had been the seventh goal chance in the Munster SHC clash at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to that point. Shane Barrett had the first opportunity straight from the throw-in but the shot was blocked. From the puckout, Ian Galvin drew a brilliant save from Patrick Collins. Four minutes later, Galvin batted the ball off the butt of the post and the Cork defence prevented a posse of Clare forwards from scrambling the rebound over the line.

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