Clare vs Cork Preview
It’s the biggest day of the year for hurling fans. Clare will play Cork in the All-Ireland SHC Final at Croke Park on July 21st at 3:30 pm. This is an exciting match-up between two of the hurling sleeping giants.
Most people didn’t expect both sides to make the hurling final. It’s been a long wait for these counties with their fans experiencing years of pain. Now one of them has the chance to end their title of drought.
But this also means that one team is going to suffer major heartbreak. There’s very little to choose between these two sides, with Cork entering as a slight favourite. However, many experts fancy this Clare team to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup.
Clare vs Cork Key Stats and Head-to-Head
The Banner and the Rebels know each other well from the Munster Championship. They’re two of Hurling’s strongest powers, with Clare enjoying more recent success. The four-time All-Ireland Senior Hurling champions won their last title in 2013. Coincidentally, that win was over Cork. Former bainisteoir Davy Fitzgerald led the Banner to a historic replay victory over the Rebels.
It’s been 11 years since Clare last lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup. But this is nothing compared to the 81-year wait between their first and second titles. They are desperate to claim that elusive fifth All-Ireland victory.
Meanwhile, Cork is historically one of the nation’s three hurling titans. They’ve won the All-Ireland Championship an incredible 30 times. Only Kilkenny has enjoyed more success in hurling premier competition. However, the Rebel County’s last success was back in 2005.
Clare have finally done it. They have beaten Kilkenny 0-24 to 2-16 to advance to the All-Ireland final.
They will play either Limerick or Cork in the final.
This is only the second time Clare have ever beaten Kilkenny in championship. pic.twitter.com/p9xQyQpi2Y
— OurGame.ie (@OurGameHQ) July 6, 2024
Now the likes of Brian Hayes and Patrick Collins hope to break their curse. They want to join the likes of Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín in the history books, maybe even ranking amongst the best hurlers ever. Many people thought that this was a year too soon for the Rebels, but they’re riding a wave of positivity.
Cork defeated Limerick in a thriller at Croke Park in the semifinal. This was one of the greatest games of the decade. Their goalkeeper Collins made several staggering saves as he put his body on the line in a breathtaking display.
It was relatively even between these Munster rivals until Limerick pulled ahead. They burst into life after 20 minutes and took a 0-16 to 1-11 lead into the break. Brian Hayes scored a goal for the Rebels, but the Shannonsiders took over. Most of the country expected Limerick to cruise to victory after this.
But Pat Ryan sent his team out with renewed vigour. They scored nine points in 10 minutes after the break as a shellshocked Limerick responded with just three. The Treaty had their heroes with Aidan Gillane hitting 10 points, but they couldn’t keep up with Cork.
The Leesiders carried a seven-point lead into the last quarter, but Limerick didn’t back down. They chipped away from the field and narrowed the gap to two points. Time wasn’t on their side as they went in search of a game-winning goal, but Cork held on for an iconic victory. Incredibly, it was their second win over Limerick in 2024.
Meanwhile, Clare enjoyed a surprise victory over Kilkenny in the other semifinal. This was also a thriller with another spectacular second-half comeback. The Cats led by five points at half-time and it appeared they were cruising.
Clare didn’t play well in the first half, but they returned to the field with a vengeance. Shane O’Donnell was outstanding as his team stepped up and showed they wanted to win. Aidan McCarthy was also clinical for the Banner as he scored 11 points with nine of those coming from frees.
The Banner went on a second-half scoring spree. Brian Lohan deserves credit because the momentum shifted when he introduced Ian Galvin and Aaron Shanagher. Ultimately, Clare won 0-24 to 2-16. Kilkenny defeated them at the same stage of the past two seasons, so this was a sweet victory for the Banner.
The GAA don’t do a great job in marketing our games so here are the last 10 mins of Cork vs Limerick.
Unbelievable commentary on RTÉ from Darragh Maloney and Michael Duignan.
Breathtaking hurling. pic.twitter.com/PZUDB1JCeP
— Daniel Hussey (@DanielHussey2) July 9, 2024
Clare are underdogs ahead of this game but they’re also the only team to beat Cork this season. They defeated them in the Munster Championship by two points at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. This was another exciting game and fans will hope for similar drama.
Cork dominated this game until the 52nd minute. They led 1-17 to 0-14 before they lost Seán O’Donoghue to a second yellow card. This gave Clare a route back, which they took with both hands. Suddenly, there were gaps in the Cork defence and the Banner exploited them.
Shane O’Donnell grabbed the crucial goal that cut the deficit, and Clare chipped away from there. They won the match by two points, but Cork felt as if they had thrown this victory away.
This final is a fascinating match-up between two skilled teams. It’s brilliant to get different teams in the final to breathe new life into the All-Ireland Championship.
Clare vs Cork Predictions
Predicted Score: Clare 1-20 – 2-21 Cork
We predict Cork will beat Clare in this All-Ireland Final. They are riding a wave of momentum and have overcome the biggest tests this season. Remarkably, they defeated Limerick twice in this year’s campaign.
Our hurling prediction is that Cork will outscore Clare in both goals and points. They have an elite shot-stopper in Patrick Collins. Meanwhile, the likes of Paddy Horgan and Alan Connolly offer a dangerous goalscoring threat. It feels like it’s their year and this may be too much for Clare to overcome.
Clare also has elite talent in their ranks. Shane O’Donnell and Aidan McCarthy present a dangerous threat to the Rebels. They’ve got what it takes to hurt Cork if the Rebels don’t maintain focus for this entire game. Furthermore, they’ve more recent Championship nous than Cork, even if few players remain from that era.
The Banner can also point to their victory over Cork this season. It’s true that it was a narrow win and that the red card changed the game. However, this was a sign of maturity and strong character. Cork on their part will claim this was a freak result and will want revenge. Ultimately, that loss cost them the Munster championship. Hopefully, this game is not affected by a controversial hurling black card or similar event.
Cork will remember their last All-Ireland Final appearance against Clare. That game ended in heartbreak, so they want to right the wrongs of the past. It’s going to be a fascinating clash between two great rivals.
This will be an exciting hurling game with history on the line. Cork are favourites, but Clare is live underdogs. Both teams have produced outstanding comebacks in the semifinals. Check the live odds if either takes the lead because the odds may be more favourable. Don’t write off either of these counties in this All-Ireland Final.
Clare vs Cork Betting Tips
On paper, betting on Cork is the sensible option in this game. However, while we predict they will win, Clare presents a distinct threat. There are convincing arguments for backing either team ahead of this final on our sports betting platform.
The Rebels are 8/11 favourites after their victory over Limerick. This means a €10 bet would make €7.27. That’s a decent profit for a favourite and may be tempting. However, the odds are close because Clare is also on a strong run. Their semifinal win over Kilkenny was also impressive.
Clare is a 7/5 underdog with the same stake potentially winning €14. This may tempt neutrals because it’s almost twice the profit. Remember, they’ve already defeated the Rebels once this year too.
There are plenty more hurling markets and opportunities for prop bets. Check the over-under betting odds for the total number of points or goals in this game. Another option is for the first goalscorer. Alan Connolly and Patrick Horgan are both 6/1 to put the ball in the back of Eibhear Quilligan’s net. Meanwhile, it’s 5/1 for Shane O’Donnell to be the Man of the Match.
Why not bet on the winning margin? We predict Cork will win by up to seven points. It’s 13/2 for them to achieve this with potential returns of €75. You can also bet on the halftime winners and the winners of both halves.
Most GAA fans will tune in and bet on both GAA finals. Galway is a slight favourite to beat Armagh and lift the Sam Maguire Cup. This is a good option to do a double and bet on the potential winners of both codes. Use our welcome bonus to place your stake with no extra risk.
