Kilkenny and Clare's Saturday showdown completes trilogy

Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final will be the third year in a row that Kilkenny will take on Clare. The Banner will be looking to get one over their foes after losing the last two clashes.

2023

Kilkenny 1-25, Clare 1-22

Kilkenny were in the unusual position of going into Sunday’s showdown with Clare as underdogs but, a mixture of forward brilliance from Eoin Cody and Eoin Murphy producing one of the greatest ever saves hurling has ever seen, the Cats are back on the biggest stage in the game.

The second half was a rivetting contest as Clare, who didn’t deliver in the corresponding fixture in 2022, came to play but were worn down by a Kilkenny side that just know how to get it done when it matters most.

Luck needs to be on your side on these big occasions too. The Noresiders had their fair share of good fortune with Cody’s crucial goal arriving from a Clare mistake after the Banner men had edged their way into a 0-19 to 0-17 lead.

Kilkenny - TJ Reid (0-12, 0-11 frees, 0-1 line ball); Eoin Cody (1-5); Adrian Mullen (0-2); Huw Lawlor, Paddy Deegan, Tom Phelan, Billy Ryan, Padraig Walsh, Cian Kenny (0-1 each).

Clare - Mark Rodgers (0-10, 0-5 frees, 0-2 65s); Shane O’Donnell (1-1); David Fitzgerald (0-3); Diarmuid Ryan, David McInerney, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Ryan Taylor, David Reidy, Ian Galvin (0-1 each).

2022

Kilkenny 2-26, Clare 0-20

An exceptional first half performance laid the foundations for victory as Kilkenny overcame Clare to reach their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2019.

It was a dominant performance from the three-in-a-row Leinster champions. Their first half tally of 1-17 showed just how much superiority they had over the opposition.

Martin Keoghan and Cian Kenny got goals in each half for the winners while TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen, Huw Lawlor and Mikey Butler excelled in a magnificent team performance, probably the best since the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final win over Limerick.

Kilkenny - TJ Reid (0-10, 0-7 frees); Cian Kenny (1-2); Adrian Mullen (0-5); Martin Keoghan (1-0); Eoin Cody (0-3); Billy Ryan, Padraig Walsh (0-2 each); Walter Walsh, Conor Browne (0-1 each).

Clare - Tony Kelly (0-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65); Shane O’Donnell (0-4); David Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Ryan (0-3 each); Mark Rodgers (0-2); Peter Duggan (0-1, free); Ryan Taylor, Rory Hayes (0-1 each).