NHL FINAL/Kilkenny 3-20 0-15: Although its result has all the look of a metaphor for the competition it brought to an unlamented end, yesterday's Allianz National Hurling League final was unusual in that by half-time it looked in the balance before Kilkenny upped the ante after the break with a thunderous performance that buried Clare.
On the previous two occasions they have won this competition, Brian Cody's team went on to add the All-Ireland and the odds on a repeat will presumably be as short as ever ushered league winners into the championship.
The essential story of the match is the second half, during which the winners outscored Clare 2-13 to 0-5 so the first half is in retrospect inconsequential. But it's all Clare have to cling to as they come to terms with another black May day in Semple Stadium.
They led for most of the opening 35 minutes and went in on level terms.
Their forwards were playing confidently and a few good scores were hit from long range. At the back they were largely in control - to the extent that Kilkenny had to reshuffle their attack thoroughly.
Only DJ Carey remained in his original position as the attack was switched around in an attempt to find the optimum configuration. It was a worrying time for Kilkenny, as their newcomers struggled to make an impact on the opposition.
Yet Clare weren't running away with it despite doing well around the middle and scoring fluently with Tony Griffin, back from Canada, starting the match instead of Barry Nugent, who was carrying a knock. But it was Kilkenny who looked more of a goalscoring threat.
In the 23rd minute David Fitzgerald made the first of a series of exceptional saves when Shefflin came in along the left wing and shot for goal with Clare a comfortable two points ahead. Richie Power got to the rebound and Carey was fouled by Frank Lohan as the lay-off came towards him.
Carey exacted full retribution with the penalty and Kilkenny led 1-5 to 0-7 but it was one of the positive aspects of the first half for Clare that they responded so well to the concession of scores.
On four occasions they replied within 60 seconds of Kilkenny scoring and within three minutes of the penalty they had clawed back the lead within three minutes.
Fitzgerald was required again on the stroke of half-time. Eoin Larkin had a straight shot at goal and hit it high and forcibly but the Clare goalkeeper got up to knock the ball over the bar.
Whatever happened at half-time transformed the match.
Kilkenny ferociously raised their game and Clare didn't come close to matching them.
The winners' improvement could be seen all over the field. Derek Lyng powered into the game at centrefield but nowhere was the change more pronounced than at half back.
Peter Barry was named the TG4 Man of the Match, a fair reflection of his level of command but beside him JJ Delaney thieved countless high balls and was gone before Clare knew he had possession.
The defence tightened in general and the team performance was sharper.
Kilkenny were now anticipating the ball and comprehensively winning the race for the ball. Clare lost their shape in attack and bunched incoherently in the middle.
With the match on the threshold of moving out of sight, Kilkenny made the decisive intervention. Carey, who had a fine match and played a major part in all three goals, set Larkin clear and he kicked to the net for a 2-10 to 0-11 lead that everyone knew wasn't going to be overhauled.
Kilkenny weren't done and relentlessly added to the score.
Shefflin, having been thwarted again by Fitzgerald early in the second half, was the beneficiary of a great pass from Carey and one-on-one with the Clare goalkeeper, he left nothing to chance and dispatched a venomous shot to the net.
Referee Ger Harrington kept close control, unwilling to let anything go and the final two yellow-card dismissals of the league experiment saw corner backs Frank Lohan from Clare and his opposite number James Ryall walk in the 37th and 55th minutes respectively. Clare's other corner back Gerry O'Grady got a red card in the 65th minute for a foul on Tommy Walsh.
Gilligan might have had a goal for Clare after replacement Daithi O'Connell pulled the ball back across the face of Kilkenny's goal in the 63rd minute but he couldn't connect properly.
KILKENNY: J McGarry; J Ryall, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; B Barry (0-1, 65), D Lyng (0-1); M Comerford (0-2), E Larkin (1-2), T Walsh (0-3); R Power, DJ Carey (1-2, goal a penalty), H Shefflin (1-7, all points frees). Subs: E Brennan (0-2) for Power (50 mins), M Kavanagh for Ryall (56 mins).
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; F Lohan, B Lohan, G O'Grady; A Markham, S McMahon (0-2, one free, one 65), G Quinn; B O'Connell (0-1), C Lynch (0-1); C Plunkett (0-2), D McMahon, T Carmody (0-3); T Griffin (0-1), N Gilligan (0-5, four frees), A Quinn. Subs: B Quinn for F Lohan (38 mins), B Nugent For Plunkett (48 mins), D O'Connell for A Quinn (54 mins), D Clancy for B O'Connell (68 mins).
CARDS: Red: Kilkenny: none; Clare: O'Grady (65 mins). Yellow: Kilkenny - Ryall (55 mins) Clare: F Lohan (37 mins).
Referee: G Harrington (Cork).
