Kilkenny’s dominance of the inter county hurling season looks set to continue after their convincing win over Clare in the All-Ireland intermediate final at Semple stadium this evening.
Before an attendance of 1,401, their ability to get through for goals proved too much for Clare and the noresiders deservingly took the honours
Five points up after ten minutes when they had 1-2 on the scoreboard despite having lost centre back Shane Taylor to injury in the very first minute, things looked good for Clare.
Aidan Mc Guane and Eoin Quirke of Clare put a rub on their foreheads before their Intermediate All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jeoff Brennan of Kilkenny in action against Kevin Hehir of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ryan Taylor of Clare scores the goal despite Jason Cleere of Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ryan Taylor of Clare celebrates his goal against Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Conor Delaney of Kilkenny in action against Oisin Donnellan of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Conor Tobin of Kilkenny in action against Aidan Mc Guane of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Conroy of Clare in action against Conor Delaney of Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Pat O Grady, Kilkenny manager has a friendly push for Seanie Mc Mahon, Clare selector on the sideline during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Donal Moloney, Clare manager, on the sideline during their Intermediate All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Mc Grath and Michael O Neill of Clare in action against Conor Tobin of Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Darragh Corry of Clare in action against Jason Cleere of Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Alan Murphy of Kilkenny in action against Jason Mc Carthy of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jason Mc Carthy of Clare in action against Alan Murphy of Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Alan Murphy of Kilkenny in action against Ciaran Cooney of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ryan Taylor of Clare in action against Jack Langton of Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Darragh Corry of Clare in action against Jeoff Brennan of Kilkenny during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Mc Grath of Clare laments a missed chance during their Intermediate All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Neill of Clare reacts to a ref’s whistle during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare subs look on disappointed from the stand near the end during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Luke Hickey of Kilkenny in action against Darragh Corry of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tom Aylward of Kilkenny in action against Darragh Corry of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
John Walsh of Kilkenny scores their fifth goal against Daniel Vaughan, Eoin Quirke and Eoin Enright of Clare during their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Pat O Grady, Kilkenny manager and Donal Moloney, Clare manager, shake hands following their Intermediate All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Danny Russell of Clare and Luke Hickey of Kilkenny exchange jerseys following their Intermediate All-Ireland final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
A dissapointed Michael O Neill of Clare following their Intermediate All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Seanie Mc Mahon.
Photograph by John Kelly.
Orla Considine consoles Michael O Neill of Clare following their Intermediate All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Dissapointed Clare players following their Intermediate All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.
Darragh Corry was in sparkling form for Tulla in their victory over O’Callaghans Mills. Photograph by John Kelly.
Then, in the space of six minutes they conceded three goals after some poor defensive play and when the half time whistle sounded they found themselves seven points in arrears with the score at 4-5 to 1-7.
Throughout the pitch Clare struggled to cope with Kilkenny’s physicality and this was particularly true of the Clare full back line.
Being forced into an early change didn’t help Clare who lost centre back Shane Taylor in the opening minute after he suffered a heavy knock. They were already down Ben O’Gorman from Wolfe Tones who failed a late fitness test and the loss of these players certainly cost the Banner side
Kilkenny’s first goal came in the thirteenth minute when team captain Nicky Cleere applied the finish. They had their second four minutes later when John Walsh flicked the ball past the advancing Clare goalie Daniel Vaughan and Clare were still recovering from this when Billy Ryan struck for the Noresider’s third goal. Six minutes later midfielder Luke Scanlan broke through the middle for goal number four and Clare were in serious trouble.
In the second half Clare tried hard but the closest they got to the winners was four points with seven minutes remaining. On the few occasions that the Clare men looked like closing the gap, Kilkenny, trained by former St. Josephs Doora-Barefield player Sean Mangan, struck for a score and emerged as worthy winners.
They played the final six minutes with fourteen men after defender Evan Cody picked up a second yellow card.
For this game Clare made two changes from the side which started in the Munster final against Limerick. Broadford’s Shane Taylor came in at centre back and Danny Russell regained his place in attack to the exclusion of Dara Walsh and Colin Crehan.
Both Ben O’Gorman and Shane Gleeson who had impressed in the Muinster final when introduced, were ruled out due to injury.
Scorers; Kilkenny; John Walsh (2-2); Nicky Cleeree (1-4) Billy Ryan (1-4) Luke Scanlon (1-2) Alan Murphy (0-2), Jack Langton and Sean Morrissey (0-1) each
Clare; Shane McGrath (0-10) Ryan Taylor (1-0) Jason McCarthy, Kevin Hehir (0-2) each Danny Russell, David Conroy (0-1) each
Kilkenny; Aaron Duggan; Evan Cody, Tom Aylward, Luke Hickey; Jason Cleere, Conor Delaney, Jeoff Brennan; Jack Langton, Luke Scanlon; Alan Murphy, Conor Tobin, Ritchie Leahy; Billy Ryan, Nicky Cleere, John Walsh;
Subs; Sean Morrissey for Tobin; Jack McGrath for Leahy. Shane Donnelly for Murphy.
Clare; Daniel Vaughan (Tulla); Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones), Eoin Quirke (Whitegate), Ciaran Cooney (O’Callaghan Mills); Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley), Shane Taylor (Broadford), Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona); David Conroy (St Joseph’s, Doora/Barefield) Kevin Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona); Oisin Donnellan (Feakle), Shane McGrath (Feakle) captain, Darragh Corry (Tulla); Danny Russell (Éire Óg), Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley), Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
Subs; Dara Walsh (Eire Og) for S. Taylor(inj.) Eoin Enright (Kilmaley) for Hayes; Pauric O’Loughlin (Clonlara) for Donnellan
