Road to the Final- Kilkenny fight off Clare in absorbing All-Ireland semi-final tussle

The more things change, the more they stay the same. After an absorbing All-Ireland semi-final weekend, the 2023 decider will be a repeat of last year’s final with Kilkenny and Limerick set to lock horns once more.

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 with Eoin Murphy producing one of the greatest ever saves hurling has seen, the Cats are back on the biggest stage in the game.

The second half in particular was a rivetting contest as Clare, who didn’t deliver in the corresponding 2022 fixture, came to play but ultimately they 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 Eoin 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.

Clare had everything going for them in the seconds and minutes before that Cody strike. Incredibly they notched nine of the first 11 points in the second half as they turned a game on its head. The clash looked to be easing towards a Kilkenny success when the Cats led by five at the halfway mark.

Clare also had a disallowed Mark Rodgers goal where an advantage wasn’t played. Had that been given, then Kilkenny may have been in terminal trouble.

Cody’s goal arrived as a result of indecision and sloppiness from Clare corner-back Rory Hayes, allowing Billy Ryan to turn play over. The sliotar found its way to TJ Reid who unselfishly fed his clubmate and he made no mistake from there.

The game was from over at that point though and a wonderful individual goal from Shane O’Donnell that levelled the game at 1-20 each almost brought the roof off GAA HQ. However, Kilkenny remained calm and composed when everything around them was going mad.

A 64th minute TJ Reid free pushed the winners in front again. This time it gave them a lead they would never relinquish.

Another Reid free and man of the match Cody from play had the advantage out to three and it stayed that way till the end - but how remains the question.

In the dying embers of an ‘edge on the seat’ contest, Clare tried one last attack. Peter Duggan guided a spectacular effort towards goal - despite everything he has done before, Eoin Murphy outdid himself when leaping to make a remarkable save, touching the sliotar onto the crossbar.

To rub salt into the wounds Kilkenny then went up the other end and knocked over the final point of the game, Padraig Walsh flighting a lovely score from play.

Despite all Kilkenny’s injury worries in the build up, all of Richie Reid, Mossy Keoghan and Adrian Mullen played their part, Mullen chipping in with two points on his first appearance back after recovering from the fractured thumb injury that he picked up against Wexford.

Clare also played with the majority of their walking wounded with just Aidan McCarthy missing out.

No doubt still reeling from the blitzkrieg Kilkenny attacking display 12 months ago, Clare and Brian Lohan turned things around tactically as they played with seven backs but that only played into Kilkenny’s hand. The Cats were much the better side for the majority of the opening 35 minutes.

With the likes of Huw Lawlor and Mikey Butler revelling in the free space afforded to them, the defensive duo were just one example of how Kilkenny were getting on top all over the field.

Tony Kelly was again well restricted by Butler as the Clare marksman only scored one point from play. While the Munster finalists were very much second best in the first half, they were still only a Conor Fogarty block away from rattling the net.

Kilkenny weren’t without a goal chance themselves and Eibhear Quilligan brilliantly denied TJ Reid from close in.

TJ didn’t score from play but he was still involved in a lot of good things, including a superb sideline cut in the second half. His final 12 point tally moved him to the top of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship scoring charts once again.

If TJ was some way restricted, the same certainly couldn’t be said about Eoin Cody who was magnificent all the way through. His leadership qualities are really coming to the fore as he looks destined for an All-Star at the end of the year.

Kilkenny and Derek Lyng have certainly proved a few doubters wrong thus far and they’ll be hoping they can do it one more time in an All-Ireland rematch.

Teams and Scorers

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).

Kilkenny - Eoin Murphy; Paddy Deegan, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Mikey Butler; Conor Fogarty, Adrian Mullen; Tom Phelan, Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly; Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Walter Walsh for Keoghan 44 mins, Cian Kenny for Donnelly 53 mins, Cillian Buckley for Fogarty 55 mins, Richie Hogan for Phelan 60 mins, Padraig Walsh for Ryan 67 mins.

Clare - Eibhear Quilligan; Seadna Morey, Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan; Rory Hayes, John Conlon, David McInerney; Cathal Malone ,Diarmuid Ryan; Ryan Taylor, Tony Kelly, David Fitzgerald; Shane O’Donnell, Peter Duggan, Mark Rodgers.

Subs: David Reidy for Taylor 33 mins, Ian Galvin for Morey h-t, Aron Shanagher for Reidy 70 mins.

Referee - Colm Lyons (Cork)