Kilkenny lose out to Clare in Allianz League Final

Kilkenny have been defeated in a second successive Allianz Hurling League Final after Clare overcame the Cats by two points in FBD Semple Stadium this evening.

It's a first league crown since 2016 for the Banner County and while the game was closely fought throughout, Brian Lohan's team were deserved winners.

Kilkenny lined up without the injured TJ Reid and they'll look back on a missed penalty late on from Eoin Cody but in the end Derek Lyng's men gave themselves too much to do.

In a final that took it's time to come to life, the sides were level on six occasions inside the opening twenty minutes.

Points from Adrian Mullen, Richie Reid and Jordan Molloy briefly broke the monopoly to lead 0-9 to 0-6 and at that stage Kilkenny looked to be in a decent spot.

Clare struck for 1-2 without reply before the break however with Aidan McCarthy's goal and points from Mark Rodgers and McCarthy once again, gifting the winners a 1-8 to 0-9 lead at the break.

Mossy Keoghan came off the bench at half-time for Kilkenny and the Tullaroan man wen on to have a huge impact in scoring four points from play.

Clare though had an answer to most of what Kilkenny threw at them and further goals from McCarthy who totalled 2-10 throughout and a very composed effort by David Fitzgerald extended the advantage on the scoreboard.

Even though Clare led by six points going down the stretch, Kilkenny were never going to go away easily and after finally freeing himself of an ultra tight defesive rearguard Eoin Cody sparked a comeback for the Noresiders when blasting to the net in the 65th minute.

Aidan McCarthy responded with a free but the sizeable Clare crowd in attendance were certainly sweating when John Donnelly was fouled for a penalty which was struck poorly by Eoin Cody.

Still Kilkenny rallied and efforts from Keoghan and Cian Kenny kept Clare on their toes but with McCarthy landing his last point in stoppage time, the Munster side did enough to prevail.

Teams and Scorers

Clare- Aidan McCarthy (2-10, 9f's); David Fitzgerald (1-0); Mark Rodgers (0-2), Diarmuid Ryan, Cathal Malone, Darragh Lohan, Ian Galvin (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Eoin Cody (1-4, 3f's); Martin Keoghan (0-4); Adrian Mullen (0-3), Cian Kenny (0-2); Billy Drennan (0-1, 1f); Shane Murphy, David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Billy Ryan, John Donnelly, Jordan Molloy (0-1 each)

Clare- Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, Cian Galvin; David Fitzgerald, Darragh Lohan; Cathal Malone, Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy, Ian Galvin, David Reidy.

Subs: Shane O'Donnell for I.Galvin, h-t; Aron Shanagher for Reidy, 52 mins; David McInerney for C.Galvin, 57 mins; Rory Hayes for Leen, 58 mins; Seadna Morey for Lohan, 66 mins.

Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy; Tommy Walsh, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan, Richie Reid; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Billy Drennan, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Eoin Cody, Luke Hogan, Adrian Mullen.

Subs: Martin Keoghan for Hogan, 29 mins; Timmy Clifford for Drennan, 44 mins; Kevin Blanchfield for Molloy, 49 mins; Liam Blanchfield for Ryan, 59 mins.

Referee- Johnny Murphy (Limerick)