In the final match of the Allianz Hurling League, Clare celebrated their fifth league title victory after an exhilarating second half, triumphing over Kilkenny with a score of 3-16 to 1-20. The fervour of the pitch invasion mirrored the spirited game which felt almost summery on a brisk April evening in Thurles.
This defeat for Kilkenny marked their fourth national final loss within a span of less than 20 months – that includes two All-Ireland and two league losses. However, despite trailing for a significant portion of the second half, they almost clawed their way back into the game in a tumultuous final 10 minutes.
In the last five minutes of regular time, Eoin Cody reduced Clare’s lead to just three points with a phenomenal goal. Soon after, a penalty was granted when John Donnelly was tackled. With TJ Reid out on injury, it fell to Cody to make the shot. His shot, however, lacked vigour and went almost straight, barely deviating from its path.
Eibhear Quilligan, standing in goal for Clare, managed to block the shot, but then inadvertently returned the ball into the crowded goal area, resulting in a flurry of activity and utter chaos.
Although Clare was deserving of the win, the slip-ups and decreased focus towards the final stage of the game put other possible results into play. Clare had a seven-point lead, 19 minutes into the second half, following Aidan McCarthy’s second goal, and appeared to be firmly holding the reins of the match. But by the end, they were barely clinging on.
McCarthy ended the match with an impressive score of 2-10 on a night where shots were difficult. Beyond the 2-1 he scored during play, his vital long-range frees occurred near the close of each half. The exceptional Adam Hogan was the chosen “man of the match” by the broadcaster, although it must’ve been a close call.
Clare’s commitment to securing trophies is critical. They have been among the top three teams in the nation for the past couple of seasons but have suffered heartbreaking losses in the Munster finals and significant defeats to Kilkenny at Croke Park over that period. Achieving success in this match served as crucial confirmation of their capabilities for them, despite the fact they were set to face tougher opponents in the future.
The remnants of Storm Kathleen wreaked havoc on the ability of both squads to shoot from a distance. The wind was hurtling towards the Town End terrace, but its erratic direction added a layer of complexity to the act of shooting.
In the first half, Kilkenny benefitted first from the wind, but misfired nine times, equal to their point total. Sharp shooter Billy Drennan missed four times in the early stages, including on a couple of frees, while fellow heavy scorer Adrian Mullen had chalked up three wides by mid-game.
Nonetheless, Kilkenny persevered in launching the ball early and energetically into their forwards, a strategy previously used against Limerick in the semi-final. Despite their growing number of missed shots, they were undeterred from shooting from afar. Richie Reid and David Blanchfield each scored a magnificent point, with the latter launching an incredible shot from just outside his own 45 that comfortably cleared the crossbar.
Kilkenny also persistently sought goals, managing to create three clear opportunities. Mullen was a part of all three attempts; Adam Hogan obstructed him once, while Conor Leen blocked his way another time. However, during one attempt, Mullen overlooked the fact that Kilkenny had an overlap outside the Clare 21, opting to secure an easy point instead of passing the ball to Billy Ryan, who was unmarked and running in parallel.
Following 28 minutes, Kilkenny had a slight lead of 0-9 to 0-6. However, the latter half of the game was dominated by Clare. McCarthy successfully managed a couple of frees and scored the game’s first goal. Rodgers propelled through Kilkenny’s defence and slickly passed the ball to McCarthy, who skillfully shot the ball past Eoin Murphy into the goal.
In the first half, Clare managed to take the lead by scoring 1-8 to Kilkenny’s 0-9. Shortly after the game resumed, David Fitzgerald scored a goal for Clare, following an initial play from Shane O’Donnell, who made a notable return to the pitch. O’Donnell, who had previously taken a break from league games, was brought on at half-time, bringing a fresh burst of dynamism and strategic influence to Clare’s front line.
As the game progressed into the third quarter, Clare seemed to have secured victory, especially when McCarthy scored his second goal, thanks to a crucial pass from Fitzgerald. However, Kilkenny proved to be a resilient adversary. Martin Keoghan definitely made his mark and with Cody finally showing his expertise, they almost staged a successful comeback.
Clare’s team included players such as E Quilligan, A Hogan, C Cleary, and others, with players like S O’Donnell and A Shanagher being brought in as substitutes. Kilkenny’s team was made up of players like E Murphy, S Murphy, H Lawlor and more, with M Keoghan and T Clifford among the players introduced as substitutes during the game. The match was officiated by Johnny Murphy from Limerick.