This article is from page 86 of the 2011-08-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 86 JPG
Clare 2-13 – Kilkenny 1-11 at Semple Stadium Thurles
THERE WAS history in the air in Semple Stadium on Saturday evening as Clare completed the full set of All-Ireland adult titles by capturing the elusive intermediate crown. In truth, the last piece of the jigsaw was garnered more comfortably than expected as once Clare reponded to yet another stuttering start with Tony Carmody’s 14th minute goal, they were always in command without perhaps ever putting the game to bed.
Of course, there are some that would bemoan the fact that Kilkenny were understrength due to the loss of three senior panellists at the behest of senior manager Brian Cody and had only played one competitive game to reach the final but Clare won’t mind that begrudgery as they had earned their title shot the hard way. Hard fought victories over Cork, Limerick and Galway had primed them for the ultimate stage and to complete the set by taking down the defending champions in the decider simply added to the sweetness of the historic occasion.
It was also a moral victory for Kevin Kennedy, Niall Romer, Tommy O’Donoghue and all who had lobbied for the county to take a more serious approach to the intermediate grade in recent times. For years in both hurling and football, the respective intermediate and junior grades were not treated with the respect they deserved but Saturday’s achievement justified a more mature and beneficial attitude that will have only enhanced the development of this squad of players in future intercounty grades.
Captain Tony Carmody put it best before the All-Ireland semi-final when aptly noting that while the competition is predominantly a development grade for younger players, one annual Munster championship outing isn’t sufficient to bring those players on, hence the neccessity for more epxerienced players to aid a sustained run.
And his pronouncement proved to be as accurate as his barnstorming first half goal that put Clare firmly on the road to victory. As in their previous outings, the seamless blend of youth and experience was essential to Clare’s progress on Saturday with Niall Gilligan, Tony Carmody and Declan O’Rouke providing the inspiration for others like Michael Hawes, Patrick Kelly, Shane Golden, John Fennessy, Joe O’Connor and Padraig Hickey to prosper.
And while this wasn’t anywhere near Clare’s most complete performance to date, the spirit and understanding that has developed over the past few months stood to them when need most.
The scores were shared out over ten different players, the loss of captain Tony Carmody to injury only minutes after his goal only strengthened the side’s resolve as they remained focused on the prize.
On the flip side, Kilkenny looked every bit the side that was lacking competitive games together with only PJ Rowe, Stephen Byrne and Paul O’Flynn raising their game to the expected Kilkenny standard but they also had plenty of inter-county and All-Ireland experience at all grades in the side when compared to Clare.
Instead, however Clare didn’t need to be asked twice when gaining a foothold in the game after another slow start. A Michael Grace free immediately on the throw-in was added to by Paul O’Flynn’s fifth minute goal that brought back all too recent memories of their semi-final start against Galway.
However, like a hurler that needs a slap to anger him into action, Clare were forced to react in kind and did so thanks in the main to their Sixmilebridge contingent. Shane Golden opened Clare’s account with a brace from distance, Niall Gilligan converted his own free while Clare finally took the lead in emphatic style when Tony Carmody took on Kilkenny’s last line and found the top corner of the net in the 14th minute to take a 1-3 to 1-1 advantage.
It was a lead that they would never relenquish as Kilkenny failed to hit the target from their numerous chances on the wings while in contrast, Clare grew in confidence with every passing score, grabbing five out of the last seven points of the half to take a 1-8 to 1-4 half-time lead, with the wind to come. While also being defensively sound through the dominant Michael Hawes, John Fennessy and Patrick Kelly, it allowed the forwards to prosper, particularly Padraig Hickey, who epitomised his emergence by his inspirational 30th minute dispossession and score that raised the biggest cheer of the evening amongst the largely Clare dominant support.
They extended that advantage to nine by the 41st minute after points from Joe O’Connor and Niall Gilligan who were both enjoying their new roles in the half-forward line. Daire Keane’s 41st minute goal may have had an element of fortune in the build up when Padraig Hickey’s point attempt came off the upright into the substitute’s path but there was no luck involved in the finish as the Kilmaley man carved his name into the history books from close range.
All this after Kilkenny had started better once more but Ger Shelly’s handpass across the square to his waiting colleagues was expertly intercepted and cleared by Patrick Kelly.
Clare possibly should have ran out comprehensive winners from that point but credit Kilkenny for emptying the bench and sparking a minirevival. Replacements Ger Aylward (2) and Simon Burke hit three unanswered points by the turn of the final quarter but Clare kept themselves in safe territory with Joe O’Connor, Ronan Keane and Declan O’Rouke matching points from O’Flynn, Conor Conway and Burke.
Niall Gilligan might have killed off Kilkenny’s renewed challenge before time but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet to strike in front of goal and instead, it took until the 62nd minute for the Cats to use up their ninth life when Paul O’Flynn crept in at the back post but saw his effort for goal just go the wrong side of the crossbar.
That sense of relief was replaced by unbridled joy as the final whistle sounded on yet another positive for Clare hurling.
And while the parameters will change substantially next year, the gauntlet has finally be put down as to the benefits of throwing everything into every competition the county enters.
Clare
AndrewFahey (Whitegate) (7), Mark Earley (Tubber) (7), Patrick Kelly (Clarecastle) (8), Alan Brigdale (Crusheen) (7), John Fennessy (Sixmilebridge) (8), Michael Hawes (Cratloe) (9), Kevin Moynihan (Éíre Óg) (6), Ronan Keane (Éire Óg) (7) (0-1), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge) (8) (0-2), Martin Duggan (Clooney/Quin) (6) (0-1), Tony Carmody (Sixmilebridge) (7) (1-0), Kevin Dilleen (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) (7) (0-1), Joe O’Connor (Parteen) (7) (0-2), Niall Gilligan (Sixmilebridge) (7) (0-3 2f), Padraig Hickey (Broadford) (8) (0-2)
Subs
Daire Keane (Kilmaley) (7) (1-0) for Carmody (20 mins, inj), Paidí Fitzpatrick (Sixmilebridge) (6) for Moynihan (45 mins), Declan O’Rourke (WolfeTones) (6) (0-1) for Duggan (48 mins), Sean Chaplin (Cratloe) for Golden (58 mins, inj), Conor Tierney (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Gilligan (62 mins)
Kilkenny
Richie O’Neill (Kilmacow) (7),Willie Phelan (Dunnamaggin) (7), Michael Walsh (Young Irelands) (6), Sean Phelan (Lisdowney) (7), Luke Harney (Kilmacow) (7), PJ Rowe (Mooncoin) (8), Stephen Byrne (Young Irelands) (8) (0-1), Michael Grace (Mooncoin) (7) (0-1f),Willie O’Dwyer (Mullinavat) (6), Paul O’Flynn (Dicksboro) (8) (1-2), Seoirse Kenny (St Patrick’s) (6), JJ Farrell (Thomastown) (6), Ger Shelly (John Lockes) (7), Eddie Hickey (Lisdowney) (7) (0-2),Adrian Stapleton (Dicksboro) (6)
Subs
Ger Aylward (Glenmore) (7) (0-2) for Stapleton (38 mins), Simon Burke (John Lockes) (6) (0-2f) for Farrell (42 mins), OllieWalsh (Dicksboro) (6) for Kenny (42 mins), Conor Conway (Mullinavat) (6) (0-1f) for O’Dwyer (49 mins), Nicky Kenny (Piltown) for Hickey (55 mins)
Man of the Match
Michael Hawes (Clare) Referee Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)