Kilkenny 2-20 Clare 0-19
Kilkenny, inspired by a resolute defensive unit and the attacking prowess of DJ Carery and Henry Shefflin, scorched to their 27th All-Ireland hurling title with a seven point mauling of Clare at Croke Park this afternoon.
Kilkenny got off to a typically busy start whereas Clare struggled to master the greasy surface and consequently found themselves a goal down after just three minutes.
Henry Shefflin - an inspiration throughout on the half-forward line - burst through the heart of Clare's defence and whipped a teasing ball into Carey. The astute corner forward was alert to steal a yard on Brian Quinn and steer the dropping ball past `keeper Davy Fitzgerald with a deft flick of the hurl.
Chasing this game was never going to suit Clare and Kilkenny's superb start was always going to leave the Munster side doing just that. Clare were already lacking the spark to take hold of the contest when Seanie McMahon opened their scoring after nine minutes with a 65.
Kilkenny hit Clare hard from the outset and cunningly channeled their attacks through the heart of the Banner county's defence. Clare's defensive stalwarts Brian Lohan and McMahon endured a torrid time against the slick Kilkenny attack and Shefflin had both defenders on the rack as he carved open a six point lead with his 12th minute strike.
Clare were all at sea minutes later as Kilkenny outfielded, outpassed and outran their opponents. It was that lack of presence that gifted Shefflin the opportunity to test goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald in the 14th minute. The Ballyhale Shamrocks player left midfielders and defenders alike for dead but his stiff shot was brilliantly deflected over the bar by Fitzgerald.
Clare manager Cyril Lyons hauled off midfielder John Reddan after just 20 minutes and replaced him with war-horse Ollie Baker. Baker, who has turned in a number of creditable performances from the bench this summer, rallied the troops and Clare began chipping away at the Cat's lead.
Although McMahon, Colin Lynch and Niall Gilligan all found their range, Clare were always kept at arms length by Kilkenny as Carey, Shefflin and Eddie Brennan retaliated after each Clare score. Young Jimmy Coogan reinstated Kilkenny's six point advantage late in the half - a cushion they held going in at the break (1'11 to 0-8).
Despite their attack being superbly marshalled by a watertight Kilkenny defence led by Peter Barry and Michael Kavanagh, Cyril Lyons, the Clare manager, did not alter personnel for the second half. Fittingly, a renewed determination and hunger justified that decision as Clare mounted a revival.
Frees from McMahon and Jamesie O'Connor had Clare within three points of their opponents with 20 minutes to play and suddenly Croke Park was witnessing a game to befit the occasion.
It would prove a hollow fightback though as Kilkenny once again stepped up a gear and squeezed the life out of their opponents. Carey and Shefflin pointed to reinstate a five point lead and with it destroying any notion Clare had of bringing the Liam McCarthy Cup home to the Banner County.
Midfielder Derek Lyng's booming 56th minute point led to a scoring spree for Cody's men as substitutes Brian McEvoy and Charlie Carter combined with Carey to pile more misery on Clare and their supporters.
Baker and Colin Lynch gave a more respectable look to the Clare total but the county's goose was cooked seven minutes from time when Shefflin latched onto a tasty Martin Comerford cross ball to flick past the diving Fitzgerald for goal number two.
Substitute Gearoid Considine rattled off two further points for a deflated Clare side but Kilkenny's silky stick work intertwined with sheer graft and fight comfortably saw them through for their 27th All-Ireland title.