Clare get timely boost with first National League title in eight years ...
Clare celebrated a first National League hurling title win in eight years as a blustery evening faded into night at Thurles, repeating their regulation game win over Kilkenny in Ennis a month ago.
Having lost successive All-Ireland semi-finals to the Leinster champions, the recent swing of fortune gives Brian Lohan’s side added confidence and momentum heading into the Munster Championship, where they open against All-Ireland holders Limerick in a fortnight in Ennis.
That doesn’t leave them much time to prepare for a game of that magnitude against a county likely to be smarting from its league defeat by Kilkenny in the semi-finals two weeks ago, the first knockout loss for Limerick since 2019. But Clare can feel entitled to at least savour this win for a day or two before turning their attention to the next formidable challenge.
They had to withstand a furious Kilkenny rally when a dramatic finish saw Eoin Cody’s penalty saved by Eibhear Quilligan.
He shot tamely in the 69th minute, the penalty awarded after referee Johnny Murphy black-carded Mark Rodgers for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Clare led by four points at the time, boosted by a second-half goal from Aidan McCarthy, who finished with 2-10, and another from Diarmuid Fitzgerald. They led by seven points at one stage, but a brilliant goal from Cody in the 65th minute cut their lead to three points and set up a tense finish.
Back in 2016, when they last raised the trophy for the fourth time, Tony Kelly was Clare’s inspiration, supplying a brilliant winning score at Semple Stadium. An ankle operation has meant no league hurling this year for Kelly, although he will be aiming to return for the championship and has been in full training with the squad.
Shane O’Donnell hadn’t played any part in this year’s league either, but he made an entrance at half-time and had a major influence, involved in an early goal for Fitzgerald when linking with David Reidy. McCarthy got their first goal late in the first half, set up by the impressive Rodgers.
Kilkenny lost experienced marksman TJ Reid, a late and unexpected omission due to a hamstring injury. Twenty-year-old Galmoy hurler Billy Brennan, 16 years Reid’s junior, stepped into the void, taking on the free-taking duties, having made a late appearance off the bench in the semi-final.
Drennan had the ideal start when striking his first free cleanly over the bar after just 50 seconds, but the first half closed with Clare scoring 1-2 without reply.
The goal was their only time to shine when Rodgers found rare space in the Kilkenny half, made ground and played in McCarthy to his left, who cracked the ball to the net past Eoin Murphy at the near post side.
Having trailed 0-6 to 0-9 shortly before and looked uninventive, making little headway in a heavily trafficked Kilkenny backline, Clare suddenly found a moment to inspire more urgency. Either side of the goal, McCarthy frees had them leading by two points, 1-8 to 0-9, at the interval after playing into the wind.
Truthfully, they were flattered to be in front.
Kilkenny had been the more businesslike side and were more on the front foot. Twice, they had goal chances.
Adrian Mullen, the busiest forward, was blocked by Conor Leen after Eoin Cody’s pass; earlier, Mullen had a shot deflected over for a point by Eibhear Quilligan after a first effort by Cody was blocked by Adam Hogan.
Fitzgerald, outstanding so far this season, couldn’t get into the game, but Kilkenny missed chances. Mullen scored three points and saw four more attempts trail wide, Kilkenny hitting nine wides in the first half and leaving two short, although the wind was an influence.
Scorers:
Clare: A McCarthy 2-10 (9fs); D Fitzgerald 1-0; M Rodgers 0-2; D Ryan, C Malone, D Lohan, I Galvin 0-1 each.
Kilkenny: E Cody 1-4 (3fs); M Keoghan 0-4; A Mullen 0-3; C Kenny 0-2; S Murphy, R Reid, D Blanchfield, J Molloy, B Drennan (f), B Ryan, J Donnelly 0-1 each.
Teams:
Clare: E Quilligan; A Hogan, C Cleary, C Leen; D Ryan, J Conlon, C Galvin; D Lohan, C Malone; D Fitzgerald, M Rodgers, P Duggan; A McCarthy, I Galvin, D Reidy.
Subs: S O’Donnell for I Galvin (h-t); A Shanagher for Reidy (53); D McInerney for C Galvin (58); R Hayes for Leen (59); S Morey for Lohan (67).
Kilkenny: E Murphy; S Murphy, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, P Deegan, R Reid; C Kenny, J Molloy; A Mullen, J Donnelly, B Ryan; L Hogan, B Drennan, E Cody.
Subs: M Keoghan for Hogan (29); T Clifford for Drennan (45); K Blanchfield for Molloy (50); L Blanchfield for Ryan (60).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
Attendance: 12,307
