The final score was Clare 3-16 (25) Kilkenny 1-20 (23)
Clare have ended their trophy drought as goals from Aidan McCarthy and David Fitzgerald fired them to just their fifth ever Allianz Hurling League title.
It emerged pre-game that Kilkenny talisman TJ Reid would not be fit to start after sustaining a hamstring injury at training on Thursday night, with Billy Drennan slotting in in his place and also taking over Reid’s free-taking duties, with mixed results. However, a flash of it before half-time swung the game back in their favour as Mark Rodgers latched onto a break from a Eibhear Quilligan puckout, charged at the Kilkenny defence and offloaded to Aidan McCarthy, whose drive had enough power to beat Eoin Murphy at his near post in 33rd minute.
They tightened their grip on the game on the restart as David Fitzgerald finished a flowing move for their second goal and though they pushed six clear after that, Kilkenny halved that deficit with unanswered points as their shooting accuracy improved dramatically from the first half with Martin Keoghan quite impactful off the bench.
With Reid absent and the ineffective Drennan having been replaced, Kilkenny weren’t flush with natural penalty-takers and though Cody had taken over free-taking duties impressively, his lift and strike lacked conviction and Quilligan smothered the shot. Subs: S O’Donnell for I Galvin , A Shanagher for Reidy , D McInerney for C Galvin , R Hayes for Leen , S Morey for Lohan .
GAA Clare GAA Clare Kilkenny GAA Kilkenny
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Clare v Kilkenny LIVE stream information, score updates, throw-in time and moreThe Allianz Hurling League final sees Clare and Kilkenny clash at Semple Stadium
Read more »
What time and TV channel is Clare vs Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling LeagueGAA action from Cusack Park, Ennis
Read more »
Kilkenny Hurling Team Seeks Allianz League TitleKilkenny hurling team aims to win their first Allianz League title since 2021, after sharing the title with Galway in the previous season.
Read more »
3 key questions ahead of Clare-Kilkenny hurling league final showdownThrow-in in is 7.15pm tonight in Semple Stadium.
Read more »
Offaly v Cork and Clare v Kilkenny LIVE updates from Hurling League clashesThe Faithful County sit at the bottom of the table with just a single point to their name thanks to a draw with Wexford
Read more »
What time and TV channel is Waterford vs Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling LeagueGAA action from Walsh Park
Read more »