Tag Archives: All Ireland Minor Semi-Final

All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final Kilkenny v Clare at FBD Semple Stadium Thurles, Sunday 1pm (Colum Cunning, Antrim) It’s not the first clash of Clare and Kilkenny’s minor sides this year but Brian O’Connell’s side will be hoping to get the same impact as their initial meeting and advance to back-to-back All-Ireland Minor Hurling Finals for the first time in the county’s history. As noted before the Munster decider a month ago, Clare’s pre-championship warm-ups against Leinster duo Galway and Kilkenny provided the confidence and belief for a relatively rookie squad to hit the ground running in Munster, a momentum-fuelled run that saw them overcome all four rivals before being overtaken coming down the final straight against Tipperary in the final. Standing up to the roll of honour leaders Kilkenny and defending provincial champions Galway was an acid test but Clare’s litmus paper will be required once more on Sunday if they are to double the dose on the newly …

With an average of eight championship matches over the past three years, the equivalent of a whole decade of previous outings from 2012-2021, Clare’s minor hurling evolution if not revolution has been an unprecedented success regardless of whether silverware was garnered or not. Of course, last year’s historic Munster and All-Ireland triumph and its manner was understandably heralded as one of the counties greatest ever achievements but with the emphasis on development just as much as success, Clare’s seventh championship outing against Kilkenny on Sunday has been a validation in itself that the county’s underage system is motoring nicely. “To get seven championship games is just brilliant and added into the last two years in which we got nine (2022) and eight (2023) matches, it’s just fantastic for the players’ development and getting exposed to big games.” Admitted Clare Coach Damian O’Halloran ahead of Sunday’s return to Semple Stadium. “Every day you go out as a player or in management, …

James Hegarty and Eoghan Gunning have been named as the Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Semi-Final/Final Players of the Match. Hegarty received the gong after his side’s 0-23 to 0-15 win over Kilkenny in the Electric Ireland All Ireland semi-final. Clare advanced to a first All-Ireland final since 2010 as they picked apart a Kilkenny side reduced to 14 players for the final 52 minutes. The Munster champions only conceded five points in the second half with centre-back Hegarty helping to provide the platform for this win with a tigerish display. The Inagh-Kilnamona man finished as top scorer for Brian O’Connell’s charges after firing over six points, four from frees, one from a ’65 while the other came from open play. Hegarty grabbed critical scores in this contest including an inspirational effort that helped to stop Kilkenny’s early second-half momentum after the Cats had shot two points without reply. His score proved the catalyst for Clare grabbing 12 of the final …