Clare finally managing to reach the All-Ireland was a triumph, although Kilkenny appeared in stronger form for the most part of the first half. Benefitting from ample possession, Kilkenny underscored their dominance while Clare’s goalkeeper, Eibhear Quilligan, held his team together with outstanding saves.
Kilkenny outpaced a seemingly lethargic Clare, though failed to seize crucial opportunities that could have increased their lead before the halfway stage. Mikey Carey missed a potential 1-1 after some impressive streaks and an uncommonly poor delivery from TJ Reid added to Kilkenny’s overall performance.
Eoin Cody did however manage a crafty goal right after Mark Rodgers’ missed attempt to cut the deficit to a single point – a momentum shift that made Clare’s victory seem unlikely. The direction of the wind remained uncertain, but it seemingly favoured Kilkenny during the first half of the match.
Post-half-time painted a different picture altogether, displaying Clare’s notable enhancements in performance. Tony Kelly, who had been largely inactive in the initial half, found his rhythm post-intermission, locating gaps in Kilkenny’s defence and increasing his scoring rate, including a truly fantastic shot that divided the teams by two points towards the decisive moments of the match.
John Conlon amended his unreliable distribution from the first half, and Adam Hogan contained Eoin Cody’s advances, refuting any direct responsibility for the conceded goal. David McInerney contained Adrian Mullen, an expected game-changer, while Ryan Taylor tackled Cian Kenny, one of Kilkenny’s standout performers.
Clare amplified the intensity of their attacks and soon their forwards took control. Shane O’Donnell and Peter Duggan thrived, with O’Donnell becoming a distinct threat. It was clear that momentum had shifted in favour of Clare and Kilkenny was reduced to capitalising on whatever meagre chances came their way.
However, Quilligan’s error allowed Kilkenny a second goal, a cruel twist given Clare’s resurgence. Nevertheless, it was due to his efforts in the second half that a comeback was even possible. Kilkenny’s rather unremarkable performance in the later stages would have seen them losing well before the end if not for the aforementioned slip-up. Their second-half performance was puzzlingly underwhelming which witnessed a severe lack of innovative play.
The notion that they had stepped up their performance in the Leinster final might actually be related to a subpar showing by Dublin. Their display was more aligned with the levels demonstrated in past rounds of the provincial championship, where they had previously drawn with both Carlow and Galway.
In general, the match was somewhat dull, marred by errors. The second half did see an improvement, culminating in a thrilling conclusion. From a Clare standpoint, there is an abundance of areas that require refinement before the final.
Simultaneously, they’ve made it this far, a feat unachieved for over a decade. There’s an improved depth seen in the team as well as potential for further enhancement, signified by the return of Taylor, consistent Ian Galvin, and Aaron Shanagher.
Their backup squad proved superior to Kilkenny’s, ultimately becoming a decisive factor. If Limerick succeeds in making it to the final, the reigning champions should proceed with caution.