UNDER-21 FOOTBALL/MUNSTER SEMI-FINALS/Cork 3-15 Clare 1-6:HOLDERS CORK easily qualified for the provincial decider following a comfortable win at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Clare struck for a 13th-minute goal, when a sideline kick by captain Shane Brennan drew goalkeeper Seán Mellet off his line only to misjudge its flight, allowing Darren O’Neill to fist the ball to the empty net to move the Banner county 1-2 to 0-2 ahead.

But they couldn’t score again as Cork jumped 1-9 to 1-2 clear before half-time despite losing captain Rory O’Sullivan through injury mid-way through.

Wing back Jamie Wall’s perseverance paid off with a well-taken goal after 20 minutes and Cork finished with a flourish as Brian Hurley and Luke Connolly put over a couple of points each to put Cork seven in front.

A second Cork goal three minutes on the resumption killed the game as a contest, Connolly supplying a brilliant finish to a fine move instigated by John O’Rourke. Dan McEoin added a third goal after 44 minutes.

CORK: S Mellett; D O’Donovan, D Cahalane, A Cronin; J Cronin, T Clancy, J Wall (1-0); R O’Sullivan (capt), R Deane; K Hallissey (0-1), M Sugrue (1-1), J O’Rourke (0-5); B Hurley (0-4), D McEoin (0-1), L Connolly (1-2). Subs: E Healy for O’Sullivan (18 mins); B O’Driscoll for Cronin (45 mins); D Drake (0-1) for Hurley (49 mins); D Nation for Deane (50 mins); C O’Sullivan for O’Donovan (55 mins).

CLARE: W De Loughery; E Ralph, E Malone, M O’Connor; S Malone (0-1), S Collins, S Tierney; K OConnor, C Ryan ; D O’Neill (1-1), P Collins, M Malone; E Finucane, C McInerney (0-2, one free), S Brennan, captain. Subs: M O’Shea for Ryan, S O’Driscoll (0-1) for M Malone (both 37 mins); C O’Brien for O’Connor (41 mins); P Dillon (0-1) for Collins (45 mins); R Linnane for Finucane (52 mins).

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).