Brian Lohan and his management team challenged their under-performing Clare players to turn their All-Ireland semi-final clash around after a poor first half had them trailing Kilkenny at Croke Park.
The Cats looked to have things well under control when Eoin Cody's wonderful, improvised overhand-volleyed goal gave them a 1-10 to 0-08 half-time lead.
Clare had goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan to thank for even keeping them that close with a string of first-half saves.
But, behind a trio of scores from the previously muted Tony Kelly and the unerring accuracy of Aidan McCarthy from placed balls, the Banner roared back in the second half to secure a first All-Ireland final appearance in 11 years.
'One handed shot , like we've seen all week in Wimbledon'
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Eoin Cody with a smashing goal for Kilkenny
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"We put it up to them [at half-time]," Lohan told RTÉ Sport after the game. "We could have made six or seven changes but they really toughened it out, showed a great bit of character and we're really delighted for them.
"We spoke about what we wanted to do all week and in the first half it didn’t happen. That was a breakdown on so many levels. At half-time we could have easily taken off six or seven marquee guys.
"They toughed it out, we changed up one or two things and they showed real character. I’m delighted for our support and for our group of players."
The best laid plans don't always fall into place on the wide-open Croke Park grounds, but Lohan always felt his squad was the equal of Derek Lyng's Black and Amber group.
"We’ve got good players. Kilkenny were very good [in the first half] but we were very ordinary," Lohan said. "That was really disappointing, especially considering what happened in the first half last year.
Player of the match David McInerney and Clare manager Brian Lohan react to finally getting the better of Kilkenny in a semi-final in Croke Park
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"We were lucky that we had a second half to come. They really toughed it out, played a much better brand of hurling and were much more committed and assured in our play so we’re delighted with how they adapted."
Clare's last win at headquarters came in the 2013 All-Ireland SHC final replay over Cork. Lohan is keen to add another victory at the home of the GAA at the very next time of asking, against either the Rebels again or Limerick in the All-Ireland final.
"The place to be is an All-Ireland final, that's what we’ve been aiming for," the Banner boss stated. "For the last couple of years, the aim was to get back up to Croke Park and maybe it was too easy a goal. When we got to Croke Park, we didn’t perform as well as we would like to.
"It’s a chance for us to reset now and enjoy the game tomorrow – it’s going to be a great game – so we’re really delighted with our bunch."
For Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng there were no complaints.
"In fairness to Clare, they won most of the battles and when you do that you deserve to come out winners," he told RTÉ Sport.
"No complaints, Clare were the better team. They finished much stronger."
Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final between Limerick v Cork (4pm on Sunday on RTÉ2) on RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
