Unstoppable Clare claim second minor crown against Galway

Clare produced a monumental performance on the big day to claim their second All-Ireland minor hurling title from their fancied rivals Galway.

They conceded a pair of goals early and late but in between, they were unstoppable.

Their defence led by Eoghan Gunning, James Hegarty, and Jamie Moylan limited a Galway attack that had outscored their opponents by 100 points across six games.

At the other end, they took a Galway defence that had never allowed more than 0-14 in any match for 2-22, with the goals arriving at the start of the second half from Ógie Fanning and Hegarty. By the end, they had 12 scorers including four subs.

They celebrated their first title at this grade since the double of 1997 with Gunning raising the Irish Press Cup in Semple Stadium's New Stand.

Galway had two goals inside 13 minutes but their shooting was otherwise pock-marked by wides (six in that same period). An Aaron Niland free from inside his own 45 proved more dangerous when dropping short. The towering Jason Rabbitte snatched it out of the air and flicked into the empty net.

Then, Conor Gilligan was first onto a breaking ball and sent Cullen Killeen into space. He shook off a foul and used the advantage to roof the sliotar past the covering defender and keeper.

But each time Clare came back to level and then lead. They had four of the next five points after Rabbitte’s goal, with an early brace for Michael Collins. Once Killeen netted, they enjoyed the best spell, scorching over five of the next seven points, with two each from Seán Arthur and free-taker Marc O’Brien as well as a sensational Fanning effort.

When Rabbitte raised a 27th-minute white flag, it was Galway’s only point from play all half.

A Niland bouncer tested Mark Sheedy’s reflexes but