Magnificent defence paves road to glory

Clare 0-15  Kilkenny 0-14

Inspired by a magnificent defensive performance, Clare were crowned All-Ireland U-21 hurling champions at Croke Park on Sunday when they dethroned the title-holders, Kilkenny, in a tremendous contest. Conceding just six frees in the hour, one of which resulted in a point, this disciplined performance from the backs laid the foundations for this historic victory.

Prior to the game, concern had been expressed about the strength of the Clare defence given that they had conceded 9-40 in three games but those concerns were answered in no uncertain manner on Sunday.
A recent series of stellar performances by Darrach Honan left Kilkenny clearly aware of the threat posed by the Clonlara teen and he was closely marked from the outset. While he didn’t manage a score on this occasion, he helped set-up a number of Clare scores, particularly in the opening half.
Midfielder Cormac O’Donovan hit the winning point a minute from the end of a contest that saw the sides level on nine occasions. Two points was the most that separated the teams at any stage and, for much of the second half, a draw looked to be on the cards.
The Clare management team made two changes to the final team and a number of positional switches from the side that started against Galway.
As predicted, Cian Dillon was in from the start at full-back with Eamonn Glynn moving to the corner. James Gunning switched to the wing and Patrick O’Connor dropped down to the substitutes bench. The other change saw Cathal Chaplin drop to the subs bench. Cormac O’Donovan moved back to midfield and, in a re-arranged attack, Conor Tierney started at corner forward.
Points were exchanged four times in the opening 20 minutes before Clare, who managed just the one point from play in that half, edged two points clear, a lead they carried to the break when the score was 0-8 to 0-6.
Kilkenny returned with Ritchie Hogan on the 40 and their re-arranged forward line began to cause problems for Clare. They scored the first three points of the half to take a one-point lead and put more pressure on the Clare defence where the full-back trio of Eamonn Glynn, Cian Dillon and skipper, Ciaran O’Doherty excelled.
Kilkenny led by a point at the three quarter stage and Clare decided that it was time to make changes to their attack and they brought in Conor McGrath and Patrick O’Connor in place of Conor Tierney and Caimin Morey.
This was a crucial period of the game and, 11 minutes from the end, Kilkenny had a chance to take a commanding lead but Ritchie Hogan’s piledriver was superbly turned over the bar by Donal Tuohy. It was a crucial save as a goal at that stage could well have put the defending champions on the road to success.
Colin Ryan, unerringly accurate from frees, cut the margin to one when he landed an effort from a 95m free and a minute later John Conlon scored the equaliser.
Clare then moved Enda Barrett to wing-back in place of James Gunning and  introduced Barrett’s Newmarket clubmate Eoin Hayes at midfield. A superb effort from Conlon had Clare back in front with five minutes to go.
Kilkenny had their only score from a free a minute later when Ritchie Hogan was on target from 55 m and he then turned provider for impressive midfielder Mark Kelly to put the Noresiders back in front with under three minutes to play.
A minute later Clare were awarded a free inside their own ’65 and Colin Ryan drove the ball between the uprights to tie up the teams for the ninth and final time.
A minute later substitute Conor McGrath passed to Cormac O’Donovan and from the middle of the field the Clonlara man sent the ball high between the uprights for the winning score.
There was a minute still to play and when the final whistle sounded it was fitting that Eamonn Glynn was breaking up another Kilkenny attack.
In a magnificent defence, the full back trio of Eamonn Glynn, Cian Dillon and team captain Ciaran O’Doherty excelled throughout. The man of the match award went to the outstanding John Conlon.
Nicky O’Connell’s first-half performance, in particular, was outstanding while Domhnall O’Donovan also got through a lot of good work
This was very much a team performance with all 18 that player making a vital contribution. Kilkenny will, no doubt, be disappointed, particularly at the fact that they recorded 13 wides, seven of which came in the opening half.

Clare: Donal Tuohy (Crusheen); Eamonn Glynn (Inagh-Kilnamona), Cian Dillon (Crusheen), Ciarán O’Doherty (Crusheen) capt; Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara), James Gunning (Broadford); Enda Barrett (Newmarket), Cormac O’Donovan (Clonlara); Caimin Morey (Sixmilebridge), John Conlon (Clonlara), Seán Collins (Cratloe); Conor Tierney (Inagh-Kilnamona) Darach Honan (Clonlara), Colin Ryan (Newmarket).
Subs: Conor McGrath (Cratloe) for Tierney (44 minutes); Patrick O’Connor (Tubber) for Morey (49 minutes); Eoin Hayes (Newmarket) for Gunning (52 minutes).
Scorers: Colin Ryan (0-9), eight frees, 1 65;  John Conlon (0-3) Cormac O’Donovan (0-2) Caimin Morey (0-1)
Frees for: 13  Wides: 5  65s: 3

Kilkenny: Colin McGrath; Paul Murphy, Paddy Nolan, Conor Fogarty; Lester Ryan, David Langton, Martin Walsh; Mark Kelly, Liam Ryan; Colin Fennelly, Mark Bergin, John Mulhall; Ritchie Hogan, John Joe Farrell, James Nolan.
Subs: Nicky Cleere for Bergin (49 minutes).
Scorers: Ritchie Hogan (0-5), 1 free;  Mark Kelly (0-3); Colin Fennelly, James Nolan, John Mulhall (0-2) each
Frees for: 6  Wides: 13
Bookings: Martin Walsh (20 minutes) Paul Murphy (32 minutes)
Referee: Cathal McAllister, Cork.