Michael Collins, Clare, and Rory Garrett, Kilkenny, in Electric Ireland MHC action at FBD Semple Stadium. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Clare 0-23 Kilkenny 0-15
By Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium
Clare advanced to a first All-Ireland final since 2010 as they picked apart a Kilkenny side reduced to 14 players for the final 52 minutes.
The Munster champions won the second half by 0-12 to 0-5 as their opponents, despite going 50 minutes before hitting their first wide, couldn’t match Clare’s volume of shots.
The final will be back at Semple Stadium on Sunday fortnight as a curtain-raiser to the Cork-Offaly U20 decider.
Kilkenny's full-forward Ed McDermott was sent off in the eighth minute.By that stage, Kilkenny were 0-3 to 0-2 ahead thanks to three points on the trot from Conor Doyle (free), Ed’s brother Bill McDermott, and Ciallín Brennan, after a brave Mícheál Ahern block.
Even when Clare levelled, they battled back to lead by two through a brace from Doyle and Greg Kelly, who fist-pumped to energise the Cats among the crowd.
But Clare were robbing the sliotar in the middle-third and turning it into points. Ronan Kilroy was all over the park, assisting six Banner points and scoring his first of two after a Matthew O’Halloran turnover.
Further scores from Jack Mescal, Evan Price, Seán Arthur, and James Hegarty, after a stylish interception, moved them two ahead.
Clare captain Gunning manned the free role and although Kilkenny worked the wings, he was central in back-to-back points. He clipped the first after intercepting the sliotar and charging forward before providing the second for Mescal.
Kilkenny, however, did not miss once they got their shot off. They didn’t hit a wide all half and narrowed the gap to one at the break with a Brennan point and a Doyle free.
That left it 0-11 to 0-10 and Kilkenny moved into the lead on the restart. They survived a scare from the throw-in as Mark O’Brien couldn’t apply the finish when supplied by Mescal, who exited injured soon after. At the other end, Doyle and Kelly split the posts.
More fine defensive work from Gunning set up a 39th-minute goal chance for Ógie Fanning but Billy O’Sullivan made the save. By then, Clare were already midway through a five-point streak, including three long-range placed balls from centre-back Hegarty.
Even when a Kelly free broke that run, Hegarty landed the next one from inside his own half.
Harry Doherty had a shot on goal saved by O’Sullivan, while Mark Sheedy blocked a Kelly free at the other end, but Clare subs Doherty and Emmet Mulcahy, with his first touch, helped them stretch away to victory.
Scorers for Clare: James Hegarty 0-6 (4fs, 1 65), Mark O’Brien 0-4 (3fs), Jack Mescal, Ronan Kilroy, Seán Arthur 0-2 each, Eoin Gunning, Jamie Moylan, Evan Price, Michael Collins, Ógie Fanning, Harry Doherty, Emmet Mulcahy 0-1 each
Scorers for Kilkenny: Greg Kelly (3fs), Conor Doyle (4fs) 0-5 each, Ciallín Brennan 0-2, Darragh Vereker, Bill McDermott, Brian Moore 0-1 each.
Clare: Mark Sheedy; Eoghan Gunning, Ronan Keane, Conor Rynne; Jamie Moylan, James Hegarty, Evan Price; Jack Mescal, Matthew O’Halloran; Seán Arthur, Michael Collins, Ronan Kilroy; Eoin Begley, Marc O’Brien, Ógie Fanning.
Subs: Mark O’Connor for Mescal (35 inj), Harry Doherty for Fanning (46), Michael Power for Begley (46), Fred Hegarty for Arthur (51), Emmet Mulcahy for Price (59).
Kilkenny: Billy O’Sullivan; Conor Brophy, Evan Murphy, Rory Garrett; Darragh Vereker, Mikey Stynes, Mícheál Ahern; Seán Bergin, Ed Lauhoff; Ed McDermott, Bill McDermott, Greg Kelly; Brian Moore, Ciallín Brennan, Conor Doyle.
Subs: Robbie Doherty for Doyle (38), James O’Neill for Kilroy (43), Noah Manogue for Lauhoff (52), David Barcoe for Garrett (60), Cian Phelan for Moore (60+3).
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary).