Cian Kenny of Kilkenny in action against Jack O'Neill of Clare during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Clare and Kilkenny at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
KILKENNY 0-23 CLARE 0-21
By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park
Kilkenny broke their Banner hoodoo amidst a frantic finish in their National League opener as injury-time points for Eoin Cody and Luke Hogan cemented a first victory in Cusack Park in twelve years.
Five successive defeats to Clare that started with the home side’s successful first outing since their All-Ireland win in 2013, fittingly was reversed for the Banner’s latest All-Ireland defence.
In truth, the result could have gone either way as the lead changed hands on three occasions in a compelling crescendo but with a draw seemingly on the cards as these heavyweights were locked together for the seventh time by the 70th minute, Derek Lyng’s side just found an extra gear in additional time to edge matters.
It was the defending National League champions that began on the front-foot as five David Reidy points guided his side to a blistering 0-9 to 0-2 opening quarter cushion.
One of only five starters from last July’s All-Ireland Final, Clare would subsequently lose two of those to injury as captain David McInerney was withdrawn just before half-time with a suspected hamstring tear while fellow defender Conor Leen followed suit in the final quarter.
McInerney’s loss was definitely felt for Clare but by then Kilkenny had fought their way back into contention once Billy Drennan honed his free-taking radar and wing-backs Fionan Mackessy and Mikey Carey led the revolt including a hat-trick of first half points for the latter.
Clare debutante Ian Macnamara did prevent Eoin Cody from raiding for a late first half goal as Brian Lohan’s side edged into the dressing rooms 0-12 to 0-10 clear.
Within two minutes of the resumption, Kilkenny were level for the first time thanks to points from captain Peter McDonald and chief marksman Martin Keoghan.
To their credit, despite facing into the conditions, Clare resisted on three more occasions before the Cats finally hit the front for the first time entering the final quarter as a brace of Drennan placed balls sandwiched a debut point for Gearoid Dunne at 0-16 to 0-15.
Clare also got an impact from their bench as Keith Smyth and Paddy Donnellan both scored braces to snatch back the whip hand at 0-20 to 0-18 by the 65th minute.
However, they simply couldn’t hold on as a pair of Martin Keoghan points inspired a powerful finish from the visitors to exact revenge for last year’s National League final defeat and get an early boost ahead of a first home outing against Galway next Sunday (1.45pm).
Scorers for Kilkenny: Billy Drennan 0-7 (6f, 1’65), Martin Keoghan 0-5; Mikey Carey 0-3; Peter McDonald, Eoin Cody 0-2 each; Cian Kenny, Gearoid Dunne, Luke Connellan, Luke Hogan 0-1 each
Scorers for Clare: David Reidy 0-8 (7f); Davie Conroy 0-3; Shane Meehan, Paddy Donnellan, Keith Smyth, Sean Rynne, 0-2 each; Aron Shanagher, Cian Galvin 0-1 each
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Shane Murphy, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; Mikey Carey, David Blanchfield, Fionan Mackessy; Peter McDonald, Jordan Molloy; Martin Keoghan, Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan; Billy Ryan, Eoin Cody, Billy Drennan
Subs: Gearoid Dunne for Molloy (43), Luke Hogan for Kenny (51), Luke Connellan for Ryan (59), Zach Bay Hammond for Mackessy (64, inj)
Clare; Eibhear Quilligan; Ian Mcnamara, Darragh Lohan, Conor Leen; Cian Galvin, David McInerney, Jack O’Neill; Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone; Sean Rynne, Davie Conroy, Patrick Crotty; Shane Meehan, Aron Shanagher, David Reidy
Subs: Ross Hayes for McInerney (35+2, inj), Paddy Donnellan for Taylor (43), Keith Smyth for Shanagher (50), Rory Hayes for Crotty (55), John Conneally for Leen (61, inj)
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
