Clare keep Kilkenny at bay with quickfire conclusion

Clare remain firmly on track for the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 semi-finals after a strong finish protected their unbeaten start in a heavyweight clash with Kilkenny in Cusack Park, Ennis.

Locked at 0-16 to 0-16 entering the final minutes, the hosts managed to find another gear as Aidan McCarthy, Diarmuid Ryan and Peter Duggan hit three points in a two minute blitz to provide their biggest cushion in 40 minutes and a final score of 0-19 to 0-16.

Kilkenny inevitably responded but ended up being frustrated by a miserly Clare rearguard as goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy repelled successive efforts from Mikey Butler and TJ Reidy before Shane Murphy struck wide.

In a tie that may have lacked real quality, particularly in the scoring department, what it lacked in accuracy, it more than make up for in sheer physicality and intensity.

Leading for more than an hour, Brian Lohan's side fully merited victory, even if there was never more than a puck of the ball between the sides for the majority.

Despite playing into the slight conditions, the home side edged two clear by the interval. TJ Reid’s opening minute free was finally answered by a four point burst in as many minutes through Peter Duggan, Mark Rodgers, Conor Leen and David Reidy by the tenth minute.

That cushion would be maintained into the second quarter despite the best efforts of Paddy Deegan and TJ Reid’s placed balls which were in contrast to a wasteful Clare who, despite an excellent three point haul from David Fitzgerald, only scored four of nine scoreable frees through three different takers in the opening period.

That profligacy allowed the visitors to chip away at the deficit as four unanswered points through Reid (2), Eoin Cody and Paddy Deegan finally regained parity