In a heart-stopping finale to Sunday’s NHL Division 1A encounter at Ennis’ Cusack Park, Clare sprung to life and ultimately outshined Kilkenny 0-19 to 0-16. After a second half that could be described as pedestrian at best, due to inaccurate shooting, Clare managed to shift gears when Kilkenny equaled the match in the 65th minute.
To honor the founder of GAA, Michael Cusack, Clare sported their notable blue jerseys. Despite missing key forwards, Shane O’Donnell and Tony Kelly due to injuries, they still put up a competitive fight triumphing over the Leinster champions for their third win of the campaign. David Fitzgerald stood tall in their absence, with his five from play being pivotal to Clare’s victory.
Kilkenny had a formidable roster, including this year’s captain Paddy Deegan, who was back in action following his club player of the year win. TJ Reid was on good form, marking his return with nine successful frees. However, a high challenge in the Kilkenny half, following a throw-in in the 69th minute, allowed Aidan McCarthy to secure the point that gave Clare the lead.
Sensing the momentum shift, Diarmuid Ryan and Peter Duggan both made successful long-range attempts, widening their lead to what would become the final score. Despite last-minute attempts by Mikey Butler, TJ Reid, and Shane Murphy, Kilkenny couldn’t overturn the result. Their final push fell short, much to the delight of the majority of the 6,824 spectators.
The recent victory of Clare has come as a refreshing contrast to their last two experiences in the All-Ireland semi-finals where their rival, Kilkenny, triumphed. Now, Brian Lohan’s squad has secured their spot in the upcoming league semi-finals later this month, regardless of the outcome of their final match against Offaly.
Younger players such as Conor Leen have been given on-pitch exposure, with Leen impressing against Adrian Mullen before he was substituted at half-time. Keith Smyth, the under-20s ace from last year, also made his presence known by netting two from open play.
This season saw Eamonn Foudy become the third goalkeeper to be given a chance, and his performance was much improved from his championship appearance against Tipperary last season, with no goals surrendered and a double save from Reid and Donnelly.
Manger Brian Lohan’s nephew, Darragh Lohan, had a solid game in midfield, demonstrating his strong running and commitment, despite receiving a second yellow card in added time.
Much like their first league game against Cork, Clare found it difficult to reflect their efforts on the scoreboard after a first half that was marked by issues with converting free throws. Forward Mark Rodgers seemed weary after several weeks of rigorous play, while Duggan was unsuccessful in his free-throw attempt. It was left to Aidan McCarthy whose precision saw him convert six free throws.
On three occasions, Clare managed to extend their lead to four, only for Kilkenny to bounce back. The visitors also struggled with their shooting, particularly in the second half, with even Reid missing a handful of free throws. Ballyhale veteran seemed to have made a successful return and almost scored, following a pass from Mullen, in the 17th minute but the referee James Owens awarded a free kick instead.
Praising his forwards’ efforts in the second half, captain Conor Cleary acknowledged their role in disrupting Kilkenny’s backline movement. However, Kilkenny constantly seemed capable of creating opportunities. A memorable moment was when a cornered Cian Kenny, deprived of his hurl, managed to knock the ball out to Eoin Cody, who scored a point with his foot.
Mullen narrowly missed a scoring opportunity prior to the midpoint, opening the way for Reid to capitalise on the free. However, it was two injury-time free shots from McCarthy that tipped the balance for the hosts, giving them a fragile lead of 0-11 to 0-9. As the second half got underway, John Donnelly was called to action, scoring three from play, effectively supporting Reid’s free points.
The match saw a climactic finish, primarily due to a late surge from Clare, sealing their victory.
The team lineup for Clare included: E Foudy; P Flanagan, C Cleary who was the captain, A Hogan; D Ryan, J Conlon, C Leen (0-1); C Galvin, D Lohan; D Fitzgerald (0-5), D Reidy (0-1), P Duggan (0-2); M Rogers (0-1), A McCarthy making up (0-6, and six free points), K Smyth (0-2). There were substitute players: S Morey for Leen at half-time, Rory Hayes replacing Hogan at 39 minutes, S Rynne on for Conlon at 46 minutes, S Meehan replacing Rogers at 61 minutes, and Ross Hayes taking the place of Flanagan at 69 minutes.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny’s team included: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield (0-1), R Reid, S Murphy; D Corcoran, M Carey; A Mullen, TJ Reid (0-9, including nine free points), P Deegan (0-2), who was also the captain; C Kenny, E Cody (0-1), H Shine. There were additional substitutes: C Buckley standing in for Blanchfield temporarily from 35-37 minutes, J Donnelly (0-3) for R Reid at half-time, G Dunne for Shine at 46 minutes, and T Clifford for Kenny at 59 minutes.
The referee for the match was James Owens from Wexford. Keep tuning into our Inside Politics Podcast for detailed analysis and discussion. Subscribe to push alerts to get top-rated news, critique and observation directly on your device. Stay updated with the latest from The Irish Times through WhatsApp.