Kilkenny 1-19 Clare 3-13
Clare have reached the knockout stages of the Allianz League after they drew with Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. Brian Lohan’s charges have yet to be beaten in the league and will now have a league quarter-final at the very least.
Clare in truth probably should have won the game given the 17 wides they amassed. Billy Ryan and Colin Guilfoyle traded early scores. Kilkenny took the lead when young hurler of the year Adrian Mullen pointe on 3 minutes. However, Clare had a goal at the other end in a matter of minute. Tony Kelly sent a long delivery from way inside his own half down to Shane O’Donnell, the Eire Og man gathered and finished past Darren Brennan. Kilkenny were back on level terms after John Donnelly and Mullen floated over points. Alan Murphy had the Cats ahead 0-8 to 1-3 with 18 minutes played. Clare knocked over five scores in the next 15 minutes. One of these scores was a goal courtesy of Ryan Taylor on 23 minutes. Clare ahead 2-05 to 0-08. Richie Leahy and Alan Murphy (free) left the scores 2-07 to 0-10 at the break.
Ger Aylward had a Kilkenny goal on 48 minutes. That same player registered a point to go with scores from Donnelly and Alan Murphy. Kilkenny led by 1-16 to 2-09 with an hour played. Tony Kelly and Diarmuid Ryan scored sublime points, before O’Donnell popped up with his second goal on 69 minutes. The score was 3-12 to 1-17. Walter Walsh pointed to level matters. However, Clare then took the lead once more when substitute Aaron Cunningham pointed , however Alan Murphy ensured that Kilkenny would come out of the game with a share of the spoils.
Kilkenny – D Brennan; Conor Browne, H Lawlor, C Wallace; C Delaney, P Deegan, D Mullen (0-1); C Buckley, A Murphy (0-7f); A Mullen (0-2), J Donnelly (0-2), R Leahy (0-1); B Ryan (0-1), R Hogan (0-1), W Walsh (0-2). Subs: G Aylward (1-1) for A Mullen, T Walsh for C Browne, B Sheehan for R Hogan, E Cody (0-1) for B Ryan.
Clare – D Tuohy; L Corry, P O’Connor, J Browne; S O’Halloran, C Cleary A McCarthy; D McInerney, T Kelly (0-7, 4f); D Reidy (0-1), J Conlon (0-1), D McMahon; R Taylor (1-0), S O’Donnell (2-1), C Guilfoyle (0-1). Subs: A Shanahan for J Conlon, D Ryan (0-1) for C Guilfoyle, A Cunningham (0-1) for D Reidy, P Collins for R Taylor, S Morey for D McMahon.
