Jackie Tyrrell frustrated by Kilkenny fade-out against Clare

Jackie Tyrrell says Kilkenny "completely lost their way at the end" as their bid for a first All-Ireland SHC title in nine years came to an end against Clare on Saturday.

The five-in-a-row Leinster champions had quietened the Banner roar at the All-Ireland semi-final stage in the last two years and things looked to be on track in the first half. But a five-point half-time lead wasn't enough as the Cats began to lose their rhythm, with Clare taking full advantage.

Speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, nine-time All-Ireland winner Tyrrell suggested that the nature of the defeat was not in keeping with what Kilkenny followers would expect of their team.

"For 35 or 40 minutes they were fairly on it," he said.

"They just missed a few opportunities in the first half and instead of going in minimum eight up, they were five up.

"The Kilkenny team that we know would definitely have been eight or nine up.

"We lost our way completely in the second half and that happens in games. You lose momentum and it's very hard to get back."

Tyrrell was a defender in his days in black and amber, but it was at the other end of the field that he felt Kilkenny left it behind them.

"It's very unlike some of Kilkenny's big names in the forwards," he added.

"You think of Adrian Mullen being so poor. John Donnelly, although he clipped two points, was relatively anonymous. He normally gets a few turnovers, creates a few scores.

"TJ [Reid] was probably our best forward but still wasn't hugely influential, and Eoin Cody got no joy out of Adam Hogan - outside of the goal.

"They're your four big main guys up front. Not alone could we not get a score, we couldn't win ball up there. When Clare took over we had no answer."

The defeat on Saturday brought to an end year two of