Clare threw Division 1A of the National Hurling League wide open when they played like champions and all but destroyed Kilkenny, beating them 2-13 to 1-08 at Nowlan Park.
Now scoring averages will most likely be needed to decide who will make the dividing line for the top and bottom half of the draw after next weekend's last series of games in the preliminary series of matches.
Clare hit the front in the third minute when Niall Gilligan got to the end of a ball from Barry Nugent before shooting a point. It was the preview to a great afternoon for Gilligan, who finished with a magical 12 points. Ten of those came during the opening half, at the end of which Kilkenny trailed by 0-3 to 2-10.
The winner’s goals came from Andrew Quinn in the 11th minute, when his shot from 50 yards ended in the net off the fingers of home goalie, James McGarry, and Tony Carmody in the 18th minute.
The second goal left the score at 2-6 to 0-1. Kilkenny picked a totally new team for the second half, with D.J. Carey moving from centre-back to full-forward.
The half started in an untidy fashion when Kilkenny's Conor Phelan was yellow carded. He followed J.J. Delaney and Tony Carmody to the line, as they both saw yellow during the opening period.
Brian Lohan and Brian Lynch followed before five minutes of the new half passed, but to be fair, the game was far from dirty or over physical.
Kilkenny chased the game hard, but they couldn't match the might hurling of Colin Lynch, Alan Markham or Niall Gilligan, and they just couldn't find a way past brilliant 'keeper, Davy Fitzgerald.
Eventually in the last minute the home side had a goal from sub, John Maher, but the game was long, lone gone on them.
Clare
D. Fitzgerald, F. Lohan, B. Lohan, G. O'Grady, A. Markham, C. Plunkett, G. Quinn, B. O'Connell, C. Lynch, A. Quinn, b. Nugent, B. Lynch, N. Gilligan, T. Carmody, D. O'Connell.
Substitutes:
T. Kearse for T. Carmody yellow carded 21st min; B. Quinn for B. Lohan yellow carded 38th min; D. Clancy for B. Lynch yellow carded 41st min; J. Clancy for O'Connell 59th min; C. Harrison for Kearse 65th min.
Kilkenny:
J. McGarry, J. Ryall, N. Hickey, T. Walsh, B. Hogan, D.J. Carey, J.J. Delaney, B. Barry, S. Dowling, M. Comerford, D. Lyng, E. Brennan, J. Fitzpatrick, J. Hoyne, J. Coogan.
Substitutes:
R. Mullally for Delaney yellow carded 21st min; C. Phelan for Dowling 29th min; J. Maher for C. Phelan yellow carded 36th min; A. Fogarty for Fitzpatrick 46th min; W. O'Dwyer for Coogan 50th min.
