Clare - 2-13 Kilkenny 1-8: Clare turned back the clock and looked like the power side of the mid-1990s when they destroyed Kilkenny at Nowlan Park yesterday. They hit the front when Niall Gilligan sent over the opening point in the third minute, caught Kilkenny in a hurling storm thereafter, and had the points in the bag by the interval.
"The match was finished at half-time and there was no way back for us," admitted Kilkenny manager Brian Cody. "We improved a little afterwards, but the game was Clare's from a long, long way out."
With the on-fire Gilligan shooting 10 points, the visitors led 2-10 to 0-3 at half-time. The goals came from Andrew Quinn and Tony Carmody in the 11th and 18th minutes respectively. The first came when goalkeeper James McGarry allowed a shot from 50 yards into the net off his fingertips. That left the score at 1-3 to 0-1. By the time Carmody netted, Clare were 2-6 to 0-1 ahead.
"We needed this win following a few less-than-flattering performances of late," admitted Clare manager Anthony Daly.
"The players knew going out they needed a big performance if they were to keep the door open in the league, and they produced it."
Gilligan was a star and he had plenty of good men behind him. They included Brian Lohan, who was supreme on the edge of the square and beat four opponents during the first half. Colin Lynch, Frank Lohan and Alan Markham were terrific as well.
The match threw up five yellow cards - JJ Delaney and Tony Carmody during the first half were followed by Conor Phelan and Clare duo Brian Lohan and Brian Lynch within five minutes of the restart.
For the second half Kilkenny picked a new team, and moved DJ Carey from centre back to full forward. While Carey added a certain threat to the attack, he was never given much room to inspire a meaningful fightback.
When Kilkenny did breach the visitors' defence, they found goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald in superb form. He brought off at least four top-class saves.
Kilkenny scored a consolation goal through John Maher a minute from the end.
"We have to win in Waterford next week, and we will go for it," Daly insisted when he looked back on one of Clare's best hurling days in a long, long time.
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; F Lohan, B Lohan, G O'Grady; A Markham, C Plunkett, G Quinn; B O'Connell, C Lynch (0-1); A Quinn (1-1), B Nugent, B Lynch; N Gilligan (0-12, seven frees, two 65s), T Carmody (1-0), D O'Connell. Subs: T Kearse for Carmody, yellow card (21 mins), B Quinn for B Lohan, yellow card (38 mins); D Clancy for B Lynch, yellow card (41 mins); J Clancy for O'Connell (59 mins); C Harrison for Kearse (65 mins).
KILKENNY: J McGarry; J Ryall, N Hickey, T Walsh; B Hogan, DJ Carey (0-3, one free, one 65), JJ Delaney; B Barry (0-1, 65), S Dowling; M Comerford, D Lyng, E Brennan; J Fitzpatrick (0-1), J Hoyne, J Coogan (0-3, frees). Subs: R Mullally for Delaney, yellow card (21 mins); C Phelan for Dowling (29 mins); J Maher (1-0) for Phelan, yellow card (36 mins); A Fogarty for Fitzpatrick (46 mins); W O'Dwyer for Coogan (50 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Clare: T Carmody (21 mins), B Lohan (38 mins), B Lynch (41 mins), D O'Connell (59 mins); Kilkenny: JJ Delaney (21 mins), C Phelan (36 mins).
Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).
