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Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Final – Clare 4-22 Kilkenny 2-19
Clare defeated Kilkenny by 4-22 to 2-19 in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Final on Sunday April 17th at Semple Stadium Thurles.
No cream for the Cats as Clare clean up in Thurles https://t.co/Or5XpMfPfy pic.twitter.com/BrmYZcMvgT
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) April 17, 2016
No cream for the Cats as Clare clean up in Thurles
Clare 4-22 Kilkenny 2-19
Report by John Fogarty from the Irish Examiner newspaper
Clare and Waterford will meet twice in the space of five weeks after the Division 1B winners avalanched scores down on Kilkenny in this Division 1 semi-final in Thurles, writes John Fogarty.
One look at the Kilkenny starting line-up wouldn’t deem this a shock but the manner of their errors in the first half certainly was a surprise although Clare were full value for their victory watched by a 20,481 crowd.
Leading by 11 at half-time (3-12 to 0-10), Clare goaled for a fourth time in the 51st minute when Conor McGrath hammered home an unstoppable shot. A brace of points from substitute Tony Kelly extended their advantage to 13 (4-18 to 1-14) before Jonjo Farrell goaled adding to TJ Reid’s earlier effort from a close-range free, which was deflected over the goal-line.
Clare’s first half goals weren’t as much down to ingenuity on their part as errors on Kilkenny’s. The Banner were 0-6 to 0-3 to the good in the 17th minute when John Conlon poached on a mix-up between Eoin Murphy and Joey Holden as they tried to retrieve a Colm Galvin delivery from distance.
Aaron Cunningham’s goal three minutes later came as he was given too much space to shoot past Eoin Murphy on his near side. Jackie Tyrrell made way shortly afterwards as Brian Cody acknowledge the full-back line was leaking like a sieve. However, a third goal came in the 26th minute when David Fitzgerald drove a long ball in and once more Murphy was in trouble, Cunningham pouncing to finish to the net.
Kilkenny had a couple of goal opportunities via Reid and Richie Hogan but Clare defenders managed to get either ash or a body in the way.
Scorers for Clare: A Cunningham (2-3); J Conlon (1-1); C McGrath (1-5, 0-2 frees, 0-2 65s); C Galvin (0-5); T Kelly (0-3); D Honan (0-2); P Collins, D Reidy, C O’Connell (0-1 each)
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid (1-7, 1-6 frees); JJ Farrell (1-1); K Kelly, P Walsh, W Walsh, C Bolger (0-2 each); R Hogan, J Power, C Buckley (0-1 each).
CLARE: P Kelly; O O’Brien, P O’Connor, P Flanagan; C Cleary, B Bugler, D Fitzgerald; D Reidy, C Galvin; D Honan, C McGrath, P Collins; C Dillon, A Cunningham, J Conlon
Subs for Clare: T Kelly for J Conlon (inj 51); C O’Connell for D Honan (57); Colin Ryan for D Reidy (64); A Shanagher for A Cunningham (67); B Duggan for P Collins (70+1).
KILKENNY: E Murphy; J Tyrrell, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh, K Joyce, C O’Shea; L Ryan, C Buckley; W Walsh, TJ Reid, K Kelly; J Power, JJ Farrell, R Hogan
Subs for Kilkenny: B Kennedy for J Tyrrell (22); L Blanchfield for C O’Shea (55); C Bolger for K Kelly (63).
Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary)
Banner are back! @GaaClare outclass @KilkennyCLG to reach #AllianzLeagues D1 Hurling Final » https://t.co/GAQrwsV84G pic.twitter.com/eAOUnvk6Yu
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 17, 2016
PREVIEW: #AllianzLeagues @GaaClare v @KilkennyCLG clash at Semple Stadium on Sunday https://t.co/YsqNNwQty0 pic.twitter.com/yg81EwTZn4
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 15, 2016
CONFIRMED: Fergal Horgan (Tipp) will referee the #AllianzLeagues D1 Hurling Semi-Final Clare-Kilkenny (April 17 4pm) pic.twitter.com/BTjRar0Cfl
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 8, 2016
Team News
TEAM NEWS: #AllianzLeagues @KilkennyCLG make five changes for @GaaClare semi-final https://t.co/L7KSKwxqMB pic.twitter.com/C9vGeneFUQ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 15, 2016
Kilkenny: E Murphy; J Tyrell, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh, K Joyce, C O’Shea; L Ryan, C Buckley; W Walsh, TJ Reid, K Kelly; J Power, J Farrell, R Hogan.