Goals cost Clare All-Ireland title

Kilkenny 2-10 Clare 0-14

ON offer at the incredibly short odds of 1/12 in the run up to the game, hot favourites Kilkenny were made to fight all the way in Sunday’s All-Ireland minor hurling final by a Clare side that showed scant regard for the Noresiders.
For long periods it looked like the Banner outfit were going to upset the odds and bring home the All-Ireland crown after a lapse of 13 years. They dictated play in the opening half and deservedly led by four points at half-time. Indeed, they could and should have been further ahead at this point.
The concession of two goals in the third quarter turned this tie in Kilkenny’s favour and while Clare battled to the end and were just a point adrift with two minutes to play, those goals gave the Leinster side the edge and inspired them to a 20th All-Ireland title at this level.
That Clare had chances to win the tie is without question and the disappointment amongst players and officials was understandable. Six points up as the half-time whistle approached, the concession of two injury-time points gave Kilkenny a huge lift going to the break.
There was more urgency in their play when the second half got underway and the sides were level before the end of the third quarter. Kilkenny’s second goal was a killer blow and it was a score that many Clare people will feel could have been prevented.
The disappointment of the result apart, Clare contributed hugely to a very exciting final. They had, arguably, the outstanding player in the final in Seadna Morey, whose performance at corner-back was one of the best seen in an All-Ireland minor final for many years.
Centre-forward Paudge Collins, who worked tirelessly throughout, had the game’s opening score in the third minute but this was quickly cancelled out by a like score from the Kilkenny captain, Cillian Buckley. The winners went in front when wing-back Owen McGrath landed a long-range free in the eighth minute.
From here on in this half, Clare took the lead and hunted in packs. Collins had his and Clare’s second point to level before David O’Halloran put his side in front. Niall Arthur landed a 25m free, having earlier missed one, and then Daire Keane found the target to leave Clare three in front, 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter.
A brace followed from O’Halloran, in between which he picked up a yellow card. Six minutes from the break, O’Halloran’s cousin Stephen, who had a tremendous tie at wing-back, was harshly penalised and yellow carded following a tackle on Ollie Walsh. Worse was to follow when referee Anthony Stapleton signalled for a penalty, despite the fact that the tackle occurred well outside the square. The goal attempt was saved by Taaffe and cleared by full-back Flanagan.
A superb score from Tony Kelly stretched Clare’s advantage to six (0-8 to 0-2) with three minutes remaining in the half. Kilkenny, to their credit, finished the half strongly with points from Michael Brennan and a John Power free to leave the half-time score at 0-9 to 0-5 in Clare’s favour.
Tony Kelly started the second half with a Clare point but then the Leinster champions struck for their first goal. Full-forward Ger Aylward made an excellent catch before laying the ball off to Micheal Brennan, who shot past Ronan Taaffe.
At this stage of the game, both sides made changes. Kilkenny brought Paul Buggy in for corner-forward Thomas O’Hanrahan and they introduced Paul Holden for midfielder Ollie Walsh, while Clare sent in Aaron Cunningham to their attack in place of Cathal Malone.
A Niall Arthur effort from a 35m free put Clare three clear but the crucial goal followed in the thirteenth minute of the half. The move started with impressive Kilkenny full-back, Willie Phelan and when the ball arrived in the Clare danger area, Michael Brennan was in quickly to gather possession. He raced past three defenders before kicking past Taaffe. Substitute Paul Buggy got his hurley to the ball as it crossed the goal line but it was Brennan’s goal.
It was a huge blow to Clare as not alone did it tie up the game but Clare defender Haulie Vaughan was injured in the move that led to the goal. He was removed to hospital where he was detained overnight. Alan Mulready came in at corner-forward, Daire Keane moved to the wing with Jamie Shanahan switching to wing-back and Stephen O’Halloran going to the corner.
Kilkenny midfielder Kevin Kelly, now operating at centre-forward, put his side ahead with 12 minutes to play and full-forward Ger Aylward followed with a great score two minutes later, before Kelly had another to put three between the teams.
David O’Halloran pointed at either side of a Padraig Walsh effort to leave it 2-9 to 0-13 entering the final five minutes. People began to ask if there was a date for a replay when Aaron Cunningham had a Clare point to cut the margin to the minimum with two minutes to go. David O’Halloran and Daire Keane had wides as four minutes of injury time were signalled. Three of these had been played when Michael Brennan brought his tally for the day to 2-2 when he struck the final point of the game to seal another Kilkenny win.
Though defeat was their lot, the Clare defence excelled and none more so that Seadna Morey who was, undoubtedly, the man of the match. Kevin Kelly, winner of the award, had a fine game for the winners but Morey was the star of the game. Stephen O’Halloran and Enda Boyce also did well in a Clare backline, which did some great hurling.
At midfield, Tony Kelly in particular and Enda Boyce hurled well for Clare. The forward line, it must be said, struggled. Paudge Collins was Clare’s best forward, while David O’Halloran picked off some great scores.
For the champions, Willie Phelan, Brian Kennedy, Kevin Kelly, Michael Brennan and Ger Aylward did well.

Kilkenny: Dylan Walsh; Jason Corcoran, Willie Phelan, Brian Kennedy; Pat O’Carroll, Luke Harney, Owen McGrath; Kevin Kelly, Ollie Walsh; John Power, Padraig Walsh, Cillian Buckley; Michael Brennan, Ger Aylward, Thomas O’Hanrahan.
Subs: Paul Buggy for O’Hanrahan (37 minutes), Paul Holden for O Walsh (39 minutes) and Ritchie Reid for Holden (56 minutes).
Scorers: Michael Brennan (2-2), Owen McGrath (0-2f), Kevin Kelly (0-2), John Power (0-1f) Padraig Walsh, Cillian Buckley and Ger Aylward (0-1) each.
Frees for: 9; Wides: 4
Bookings: Willie Phelan (20 minutes) and Paul Holden (54 minutes).

Clare: Ronan Taaffe (Tubber); Haulie Vaughan (Inagh-Kilnamona), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea, capt), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Enda Boyce (Cratloe), Kevin Lynch (Sixmilebridge), Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea); Cathal Malone (Ennistymon), Paudge Collins (Cratloe), Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge); Daire Keane (Kilmaley), Niall Arthur (Inagh-Kilnamona), David O’Halloran (Éire Óg).
Subs: Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for Malone (40 minutes), Alan Mulready (Sixmilebridge) for Vaughan (inj, 46 minutes) and David McInerney (Tulla) for Arthur (58 minutes).
Scorers: David O’Halloran (0-5, 2f), Paudge Collins and Tony Kelly (0-2) each, Niall Arthur (0-2f), Enda Boyce, Daire Keane and Aaron Cunningham (0-1) each.
Frees for: 12; Wides: 7
Bookings: David O’Halloran (18 minutes) and Stephen O’Halloran (24).

Referee: Anthony Stapleton, Laois.