All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final: Kilkenny 1-25 Clare 1-22
KILKENNY produced yet another gritty but excellent display to overcome Clare in an All-Ireland semi-final for the second year in a row and tee up a repeat of last year’s decider against champions Limerick.
Outstanding saves, incredible blocks and a sensational goal were among the stand-out moments from an enthralling All-Ireland semi-final which was worthy entertainment for the 48,360 spectators present.
Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy produced a save that will rank as one of his greatest – showing superb reflexes to stop a Peter Duggan volley with 72 minutes played.
An exceptional block was made by Conor Fogarty to stop Mark Rodgers from goaling in the opening half, while Shane O’Donnell’s ability was brought to the fore with the manner in which he dispatched Clare’s goal on 62 minutes.
Despite producing a below-par opening half, Clare bounced back with aplomb on the restart and, in their gusto, scored six points without reply to leave Kilkenny sweating and Derek Lyng calling for experienced reinforcements.
The Cats did bite back and hit 1-1 without reply, man-of-the-match Eoin Cody raising the green flag.
For the opening 10 minutes, it was a see-saw affair where the sides were level on four different occasions, but Clare’s challenge waned and this was exploited by the Cats.
The Banner hit just three points in the final 15 minutes of the first half, only one of these from play, while the Leinster champions added five white flags in this period. By the sounding of the half-time whistle the Cats held a five-point advantage.
Brian Lohan and Clare kept Kilkenny waiting for the second half to commence. What followed was a flurry of activity in the Clare attack as they left the Cats gasping for air.
Cathal Malone, David Fitzgerald and Mark Rodgers all hit the target to cut the deficit to two. TJ Reid then converted a placed ball before Ian Galvin and Adrian Mullen traded scores. Then the rally of five points in-a-row from Clare brought Croke Park to its feet.
Three from Rodgers had them level before David Reidy shoved the Munster finalists in front. Free-taker Rodgers added to the lead, but then Paddy Duggan ended Kilkenny’s 12-minute wait for a score and they came back to life with Cody goaling immediately afterwards.
Allstar David Fitzgerald pegged the next score, but then TJ Reid produced a fine piece of skill by converting a sideline cut and substitute Cian Kenny restored Kilkenny’s lead to three points before it was wiped out by O’Donnell’s bullet to the net.
The Cats responded to the concession of a goal by getting the next three points to cancel out the green flag. Clare’s hopes of getting another goal were thwarted by the fantastic Murphy save, while he made another stop from Duggan moments earlier.
Diarmuid Ryan and Rodgers scored points for Clare in the closing stages, but white flags for Kilkenny came through Cody and sub Padraig Walsh to ensure Kilkenny had defeated Clare in an All-Ireland
semi-final for a fourth time since 1999.
Séadna Morey’s deployment as a sweeper in the opening half seemed to hurt Clare more than it benefitted them. This being the first time in the Championship that Brian Lohan’s side had employed a sweeper, it certainly limited their attacking presence. That became clear when the move to abandon the extra defender was made at half-time.
Derek Lyng and his management received a great boost off their bench with both Cian Kenny and Padraig Walsh scoring, while both Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan also impacted on proceedings. Each call was made at the right time and definitely added to the strength of their challenge.
For the Cats, Eoin Cody, Huw Lawlor, Adrian Mullen and the outstanding Eoin Murphy stood tallest on the day, while Clare were ably led by Shane O’Donnell, Peter Duggan and David Fitzgerald.
When the final whistle sounded, it was the Kilkenny players who celebrated their shot at All-Ireland final redemption in a fortnight’s time.
Kilkenny E Murphy; T Walsh, H Lawlor (0-1), M Butler; D Blanchfield, R Reid, P Deegan (0-1); C Fogarty, A Mullen (0-2); J Donnelly, M Keoghan, T Phelan (0-1); E Cody (1-5), TJ Reid (0-12, 0-11 frees, 0-1 65), B Ryan (0-1).
Subs W Walsh for Keoghan (43), C Kenny (0-1) for Donnelly (53), C Buckley for Fogarty (55), R Hogan for Phelan (60), P Walsh (0-1) for Ryan (67)
Clare E Quilligan; A Hogan, C Cleary, R Hayes; D Ryan (0-1), J Conlon, D McInerney; C Malone (0-2), R Taylor (0-1), D Fitzgerald (0-2), T Kelly, P Duggan (0-1), M Rodgers (0-10, 0-4 frees, 0-4 65), S O’Donnell (1-1), S Morey.
Subs D Reidy (0-1) for Taylor (32), I Galvin (0-1) for Morey (h-t), A Shanagher for Reidy (70)
Referee C Lyons (Cork)
