Rewritten Text:
Player ratings for team Clare:
Eibhear Quilligan has a rating of 8. His efforts were consistent and his puckouts predominantly accurate in the match. Quilligan also managed to save a distant shot from Robbie O’Flynn in the extra time.
Adam Hogan also scored an 8. Hogan was up against Alan Connolly and defended superbly, limiting Connolly to one point. Despite a yellow card in the first round, Hogan’s defence, particularly post the booking, was commendable.
Conor Cleary was assigned a rating of 7. It was a tough game for him against Brian Hayes. Clare’s full-back was committed, made key intercepts but unfortunately had to leave due to an injury.
Conor Leen too earned an 8. He confidently defended against Patrick Horgan right from the beginning. He proved to be an influential part of Clare’s defence during a gripping match.
Diarmuid Ryan secured a 7 as he engaged in a gruelling dual with Harnedy. While both had their winning moments, Ryan was able to score a total of 0-3, even though Harnedy scored a slightly higher 0-4. Ryan’s long-range efforts were motivational and he was robust when needed.
John Conlon ranked 8 for his commanding game, particularly under the drop ball. His unbowed and authoritative performance helped Clare secure the All-Ireland championship.
David McInerney got 7 points. He succeeded in containing Declan Dalton, who’d been a decisive player in the semi-finals. However, McInerney was lucky to have avoided a black card.
David Fitzgerald received a 7 too. His persistent shooting, irrespective of six wides, did not dapple his cutting edge. Despite others failing, Fitzgerald’s game ended with a score of 0-3 and his performance was observable.
Finally, Cathal Malone got a rating of 7. Although he lost an early point to Shane Barrett, Malone consolidated thereafter, exhibiting resilience and unwavering efforts from the mid-area. His persistent chasing helped create pressure on the opponent.
Tony Kelly delivered a performance that was nothing short of mesmerising in the final, with an amazing goal, a remarkable point during injury-time and an extra-time score that’s assured its place in the compilation of the All-Ireland final’s best scores. His stellar performance earns him a rating of 9/10.
Mark Rodgers kicked off scoring for Clare with a notable point in the fifth minute, proving himself a considerable threat whenever he had control of the ball. His impressive skills were evident when he superbly fired in his second-half goal. Rodgers, hailing from Scariff, concluded the game with a commendable 1-3, earning him a rating of 8.
Although Peter Duggan was unable to catch Robert Downey leading to Cork’s first-half goal, he showcased his resilience in the second half. He made Clare’s opening point of the second half and helped create their subsequent goal, earning a rating of 7.
The game saw a generous boost of momentum when Aidan McCarthy scored his 17th-minute goal. Remaining confident throughout the match, he made a significant difference when brought back for extra-time, thus securing an 8-point rating.
Shane O’Donnell demonstrated commendable determination throughout the frazzling early period when Cork seemed to dominate. Despite numerous fouls, he persevered and assisted Aidan McCarthy to score the initial goal. Injuries, however, reduced his effectiveness in the second half, leaving him with a rating of 8.
David Reidy had a challenging start as he was effectively controlled by Niall O’Leary but grew more confident as the game progressed. He scored 0-2 before being substituted shortly before the 60-minute mark, netting a rating of 7.
The substitutes bench also contributed positively to the match. Ryan Taylor quickly made a good point upon entering, and fellow reserves Ian Galvin and Shane Meehan added vital scores. The overall rating earned by the bench stands at 7.
Despite a rocky start with Cork’s early lead of 1-8 to 0-4, Clare’s management remained calm and composed. With Tony Kelly garnering attention at midfield, Shane O’Donnell’s influence grew considerably when he started to move further inside. The team’s manager, Lohan, showcased his faith in his squad’s capability throughout the season. Their collective performance bestowed them with a rating of 8.
On Cork’s side, Patrick Collins, unfortunately, struggled to maintain the effectiveness of his long puck-outs, often failing to locate mobile targets as he had against Limerick. Although he pulled off a fantastic save during extra-time, he couldn’t thwart Clare’s goals, receiving a rating of 6 as a result.
Niall O’Leary performed commendably, effectively restraining David Reidy to a mere two points before Reidy was swapped out at the 59-minute mark. He made balanced decisions and successfully gained control of several loose balls. Final ranking: 7.
Eoin Downey engaged in a fierce face-off with Peter Duggan during the normal match’s latter part, though the Cork defence was breached for three goals and narrowly avoided additional threats. Downey scored a remarkable point, earning him a 6 rating.
Sean O’Donoghue only managed to get a grip of Shane O’Donnell once he moved in. Despite initial difficulties in curtailing O’Donnell, O’Donoghue managed to level things somewhat and attempted leading the play from upfront. Final ranking: 6.
Ciaran Joyce played his best match of an injury-plagued season, tackling several issues across the Cork defence. His agility and aggressiveness in his tackles were apparent when he executed a crucial goal-blocking move against David Fitzgerald in the additional time, earning a rating 7.
Uniquely, Rob Downey scored one of the all-time best All-Ireland final goals, though arguably not the best in that final. He was taken off during extra-time and rated 6.
After a fluctuating year, Mark Coleman delivered an influential performance in the final, being pivotal to Cork’s comeback during the last quarter of regular match time, scoring three points in total. His final rating was a 7.
In the final, Tim O’Mahony, along with Joyce and Coleman, exhibited his best performance of the season. His record includes three worthwhile points as well as two assists, though he lost his momentum in extra-time. Final ranking: 7.
Darragh Fitzgibbon had a hard time making a substantial impact at centre-field. His game improved when he was shifted to the forwards during the second half. He managed two points from the 4 shots attempted but fell short of Cork’s expectation from a leader. Rating: 6.
Declan Dalton had a tough game, failing with the two shots he made from the play and getting no chances from long frees. Unable to secure breaks from puck-outs, Dalton’s poor performance was reflected in his being the first Cork player to be substituted. Rating: 4.
11 Shane Barrett: Entering the final as a strong contender for Hurler of the Year, Barrett played a significant role in Cork’s powerful opening. He delivered two scores and achieved three turnovers in the initial half, yet his impact faded in the second half. Score: 6
12 Seamus Harnedy: As one of Cork’s steadfast players, Harnedy demonstrated a robust performance. Although his rival Diarmuid Ryan occasionally challenged him, Harnedy managed to offer four points and three assists until exhaustion overcame him. Score: 7
13 Patrick Horgan: While initially slow to warm up, Horgan eventually found his stride in the game. He narrowly missed a batted shot for a goal and only flopped twice out of 13 attempts, including two successful shots. Nevertheless, Cork’s front line had a tough time making an impact. Score: 6
14 Alan Connolly: Unable to repeat his successful performance from the Munster championship and the All-Ireland semi-final, Connolly was effectively controlled by Clare. He landed just one point without posing any goal threat. Score: 4
15 Brian Hayes: His remarkable beginning included two outstanding points. However, he failed to match his previous efficiency as a puck-out target in other matches and his performance declined as the competition progressed. Score: 6
Substitutes: Among Cork’s reserves, Ethan Twomey stood out as the most successful, with Shane Kingston catching up in extra time. Substitutes such as Robbie O’Flynn and Tommy O’Connell also offered valuable contributions that could have influenced the final result. Score: 6
Coaching Staff: Cork’s coaching staff demonstrated their willingness to utilise their reserves and injected speed into their forward line in the last 10 minutes of regular time. They altered their match-ups throughout the game, but their puck-out strategy fell flat on this occasion. Score: 6