Clare remain firmly on track for the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 semi-finals after a strong finish protected their unbeaten start in a heavyweight clash with Kilkenny in Cusack Park, Ennis.
Locked at 0-16 to 0-16 entering the final minutes, the hosts managed to find another gear as Aidan McCarthy, Diarmuid Ryan and Peter Duggan hit three points in a two minute blitz to provide their biggest cushion in 40 minutes and a final score of 0-19 to 0-16.
Kilkenny inevitably responded but ended up being frustrated by a miserly Clare rearguard as goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy repelled successive efforts from Mikey Butler and TJ Reid before Shane Murphy struck wide.
In a tie that may have lacked real quality, particularly in the scoring department, what it lacked in accuracy, it more than make up for in sheer physicality and intensity.
Leading for more than an hour, Brian Lohan's side fully merited victory, even if there was never more than a puck of the ball between the sides for the majority.
Despite playing into the slight conditions, the home side edged two clear by the interval. TJ Reid’s opening minute free was finally answered by a four point burst in as many minutes through Peter Duggan, Mark Rodgers, Conor Leen and David Reidy by the tenth minute.
That cushion would be maintained into the second quarter despite the best efforts of Paddy Deegan and TJ Reid’s placed balls which were in contrast to a wasteful Clare who, despite an excellent three point haul from David Fitzgerald, only scored four of nine scoreable frees through three different takers in the opening period.
That profligacy allowed the visitors to chip away at the deficit as four unanswered points through Reid (2), Eoin Cody and Paddy Deegan finally regained parity with their hosts by the 33rd minute at 0-09 to 0-09.
Without a score in 12 minutes, Clare finally found their range once more in injury-time as twice Peter Duggan won frees for Aidan McCarthy to convert and give his side an 0-11 to 0-09 advantage with the breeze to come.
In an equally inch-tight second period, Clare never wilted under the increased pressure as David Fitzgerald and Aidan McCarthy largely kept a TJ Reid and John Donnelly led Kilkenny at arm’s length.
Both sides had their goal chances, with a Fitzgerald shot tipped over the bar before Foudy kept out quickfire attempts from Reid and substitute Donnelly.
Indeed, a draw appeared inevitable when the sides were level twice in the final quarter but home fires burned brighter in an anxious finale as they fired the last three points to prevail in what was a worthy battle in front of a healthy attendance of 6,824.
Clare: Eamonn Foudy; Paul Flanagan, Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan; Diarmuid Ryan (0-01), John Conlon, Conor Leen (0-01); Cian Galvin, Darragh Lohan; David Fitzgerald (0-05), David Reidy (0-01), Peter Duggan (0-02); Keith Smyth (0-02), Aidan McCarthy (0-06, 0-06f), Mark Rodgers (0-01, 0-01f)
Subs: Seadna Morey for Leen (HT), Rory Hayes for Hogan (38, inj), Sean Rynne for Conlon (45, inj), Shane Meehan for Rodgers (61), Ross Hayes for Flanagan (69)
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield (0-01), Richie Reid, Shane Murphy; Darragh Corcoran, Mikey Carey; Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid (0-09, 0-09f), Paddy Deegan (0-02); Cian Kenny, Eoin Cody (0-01), Harry Shine
Subs: John Donnelly (0-03) for R. Reid (HT), Gearoid Dunne for Shine (45), Timmy Clifford for Kenny (58)
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
