Kilkenny finally ended a decade long Clare National League famine when firing a brace of injury-time points to snatch an opening victory in a new-look Division 1A in Cusack Park, Ennis.
Having failed to overcome the Banner in any of their last seven league clashes - including last April's final showdown - Derek Lyng’s side made a successful competitive bow against the All-Ireland champions on away soil.
A share of the spoils seemed to be the fairest outcome as the sides were level for the seventh time by the 70th minute mark. However, no-one informed the visitors of this script as Eoin Cody and substitute Luke Hogan provided the final nails in the Banner’s coffin.
Despite only possessing five starters from last year’s All-Ireland semi-final in contrast to nine for Kilkenny, the holders began in scorching fashion firing nine of the first eleven points without even a wide in an impressive opening quarter.
David Reidy led the way, arrowing over an impressive opening point in the first minute before adding four frees alongside a brace of Davie Conroy points as a wind-assisted Clare powered 0-09 to 0-02 clear by the 18th minute.
Kilkenny passed up some glorious chances including a brace of frees but once they settled by means of an impressive three-points first-half showing from wing-back Mikey Carey, the Leinster champions quickly made up the ground.
Two Billy Drennan placed balls along with points from Carey and Cian Kenny lessened the half-time damage to just two at 0-12 to 0-10, with the hosts relievedly surviving a late goal scare when debutant Ian McNamara snuffed out the raiding Cody.
The second half was evenly poised throughout as once Peter McDonald and man-of-the-match Martin Keoghan levelled up the tie for the first time at 0-12 apiece inside two minutes of the restart, it would a blow-for-blow heavyweight contest for the remainder.
Initially, Clare refused to allow Kilkenny to nudge in front as David Reidy, Shane Meehan and Davie Conroy all inched the home side back in front on three more occasions by the turn of the final quarter at 0-15 to 0-14.
A 56th minute Drennan free finally edged Kilkenny in front for the first time and while the defending champions inevitably resisted through impressive replacements Keith Smyth and Paddy Donnellan to restore a two point advantage by the 65th minute at 0-20 to 0-18, the never-say-die Cats refused to yield.
Martin Keoghan wiped out the deficit in the space of 30 seconds with an inspirational pair of points before Drennan, Cody and Hogan completed a first National League victory in Ennis since 2013.
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Shane Murphy, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; Mikey Carey (0-03), David Blanchfield, Fionan Mackessy; Peter McDonald (0-02), Jordan Molloy; Martin Keoghan (0-05), Cian Kenny (0-01), Paddy Deegan; Billy Ryan, Eoin Cody (0-02), Billy Drennan (0-07, 1f, 1’65)
Subs: Gearoid Dunne (0-01) for Molloy (43), Luke Hogan (0-01) for Kenny (51), Luke Connellan (0-01) for Ryan (59), Zach Bay Hammond for Mackessy (64, inj)
Clare; Eibhear Quilligan; Ian McNamara, Darragh Lohan, Conor Leen; Cian Galvin (0-01), David McInerney, Jack O’Neill; Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone; Sean Rynne (0-02), Davie Conroy (0-03), Patrick Crotty; Shane Meehan (0-02), Aron Shanagher (0-01), David Reidy (0-08, 7f)
Subs: Ross Hayes for McInerney (35+2, inj), Paddy Donnellan (0-02) for Taylor (43), Keith Smyth (0-02) for Shanagher (50), Rory Hayes for Crotty (55), John Conneally for Leen (61, inj)
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
In Division 3, there were winning starts for London and Wicklow.
The Exiles were 1-15 to 1-10 victors against Roscommon in Ruislip.
Wicklow had five points to spare over Sligo, last year's beaten 3A finalists, winning 1-16 to 2-08 at Markievicz Park.
