Kilkenny turned in a stunning second-half performance that left Clare reeling as they completely overwhelmed Anthony Daly's men in an Allianz National Hurling League Division One final that finished 3-20 to 0-15.
The Cats were red-hot after the turn and they outscored the opposition 2-13 to 0-05 during a second period in which they dominated in virtually all sectors.
"We have never made any secret of the fact that wanted to win the league and now we have claimed our third one in four years" said a delighted Kilkenny manager Brian Cody. "We will now push on to the championship, but it will be back to square one for everyone when we start taining in three weeks time."
During a tight and tense opening half, the scores were level five times including 0-10 to 1-07 at the break. The goal was scored by Kilkenny's DJ Carey from a 22nd minute penalty after Davey Fitzgerald had pulled off two outstanding saves in the Clare goal. However, he was no match for a penalty from a Carey who turned in a sublime performance and had a hand in Kilkenny's two second-half goals that buried the opposition.
Clare were left in the traps from the start of the second half when they conceded unanswered early points to Henry Shefflin, Martin Comerford, and Tommy Walsh to fall 0-10 to 1-10 behind. Although Niall Gilligan pulled back a Clare point in the 43rd minute, Kilkenny hit back strongly to grab a second goal.
This goal arrived in the 46th minute. A long ball by Brian Barry was knocked down in to the path of the advancing Eoin Larkin by DJ Carey and the James Stephens man shot Kilkenny 2-10 to 0-11 in front.
Another piece of Carey magic finished the match on the hour mark. This time he first-timed a ground pass through to Henry Shefflin who was all alone in front of the Clare goal. Shefflin made no mistake and he shot Kilkenny into a match-clinching 3-18 to 0-12 lead.
It turned out to be a really dark day for Clare because six minutes from the end Gerry O'Grady was red-carded for a heavy tackle on Tommy Walsh.
Kilkenny: J McGarry, J Tyrrell, N Hickey, J Ryall, R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney, B Barry (0-01, 65m), D Lyng (0-01), M Comerford (0-02), E Larkin (1-02), T Walsh (0-03), R Power, DJ Carey (1-02, 1pen), H Shefflin (1-07, 7f)
Subs: E Brennan (0-02) for Power 48, M Kavanagh for Ryall yellow carded 54.
Clare: D Fitzgerald, F Lohan, B Lohan, G O'Grady, A Markham, S McMahon (0-02, 1f & 65m), G Quinn, B O'Connell (0-01), C Lynch (0-01), C Plunkett (0-02), D McMahon, T Carmody (0-03), A Quinn, N Gilligan (0-05, 4f), T Griffin (0-01)
Subs: B Quinn for F Lohan (yellow card) 37, B Nugent for Plunkett 46, D O'Connell for A Quinn 53, D Forde for D McMahon 60, D Clancy for B O'Connell 66.
Referee: G Harrington Cork
Man-of-the-match: Peter Barry Kilkenny
