Goal-hungry Clare hold off Kilkenny to end trophy drought

Goals either side of half-time were decisive as Clare held on to claim their first significant silverware since 2016 with victory over Kilkenny in a pulsating Allianz Hurling League final.

Kilkenny had beaten Clare in back-to-back All-Ireland semi- finals but the Banner gained some measure of revenge in Thurles, Aidan McCarthy (2) and David Fitzgerald raising the green flags that set them on the way to just a fifth league crown.

Clare had taken a flattering lead into half-time, a goal from McCarthy, who finished with 2-10, putting them 1-08 to 0-09 ahead at the break despite the Cats dominating the second quarter.

Adrian Mullen was everywhere in the opening 35 minutes, scoring three points, hitting four wides and being booked for a shoulder to the chest on Cathal Malone.

Kilkenny will have felt they should have been ahead but Clare started the second half in style as Fitzgerald burst through to beat Eoin Murphy then set up McCarthy to repeat the trick and send his side seven points clear.

The Cats roared back, as is their custom, Martin Keoghan hitting four points off the bench and Eoin Cody rattling the net, but two was as close as they got, Eibhear Quilligan making a crucial save from Cody's 69th-minute penalty.

Kilkenny talisman TJ Reid was a late withdrawal before throw-in, having picked up a hamstring injury. That gave Billy Drennan, reduced to a substitute role since Reid's return in round four against Clare, the chance to shine. However, the Galmoy youngster had an off-day, hitting four wides (two from frees) and being withdrawn in the second half.

The parting gift of Storm Kathleen was a stiff breeze that seemed to affect the shooting of both sides early on as wides were more plentiful than points. Darragh Lohan pointed