AIB GAA Hurling All Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Semi Final – Silvermines (Tipperary) v Clara (Kilkenny)

Hogan haul propels Clara

By Shane Brophy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Clara (Kilkenny) 0-19 Silvermines (Tipperary) 1-14 (aet)

Clara are on course to become the third Kilkenny club to win the All-Ireland Club IHC title having overcome Tipperary champions Silvermines in an enthralling semi-final in Portlaoise yesterday. The sides were level ten times over 80 minutes with Christopher Bolger and top scorer Keith Hogan getting the vital points in the second period of extra time to finally kill off the challenge of Silvermines who looked likely winners during the second half of normal time.

Played in heavy underfoot conditions, both sides produced a gripping spectacle with the teams afforded a standing ovation at the end of the game. Clara began the better and were three points to the good after six minutes, all from the stick of Hogan, brother of Kilkenny centre back Brian. Silvermines soon settled with Daniel Keogh finding the net in the 13th minute. Clara again hit three points in a row, including scores from brothers Liam and Lester Ryan. Silvermines dominated the second quarter with Orrie Quirke, David Boland and Jason Forde to the fore as they led by one point at half time.

The Munster champions went two clear on two occasions in the second half but Clara never wilted with Conor Phelan and Austin Murphy getting big scores to keep their side in contention. Silvermines still led in the final minute but Hogan held his nerve to convert a long range free to send the game into extra time. In the extra 20 minutes, Clara had the edge, outscoring the ’Mines four points to two as their attention turns to an historic trip to Croke Park and an All-Ireland final on Sunday week.

Scorers for Clara: K Hogan 0-10 (7f, 1 65); Liam Ryan 0-3; A Murphy 0-2; C Phelan, Lester Ryan, C Prendergast, C Bolger 0-1 each.

Scorers for Silvermines: J Forde 0-8 (7f); Daniel Keogh 1-0; David Boland, O Quirke 0-2 each; W Keogh, David Keogh 0-1 each.

CLARA: K Nolan; T Ryan, J Phelan, S O’Shea; N Prendergast, S Prendergast, D Langton (Capt); J Langton, Lester Ryan; C Phelan, A Murphy, Liam Ryan; B O’Shea, J Nolan, K Hogan.

Subs: C Prendergast for B O’Shea (ht); C Bolger for J Nolan (49); K Phelan for Murphy (56); J Nolan for C Prendergast (ht ET); D Nolan for S O’Shea (15 ET); C O’Shea for K Phelan (15 ET)

SILVERMINES: C Sherlock; M Leamy, B Timmons, Damien Boland; Donal Keogh, R Sherlock, N Quirke; C Gleeson (Capt), O Quirke; W Keogh, David Boland, S Quirke; Daniel Keogh, J Forde, David Keogh.

Subs: P Fogarty for Daniel Keogh (48); G Toohey for S Quirke (10 ET); Daniel Keogh for Fogarty (15 ET); P Sherlock for Donal Keogh (18 ET).

Referee: O Elliott (Antrim)