Clare 0-15, Kilkenny 0-14
Kilkenny’s hold on the Cross of Cashel trophy was relinquished on Sunday as a determined Clare side captured their first Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland under 21 hurling title by the slenderest of margins before an attendance of 25,924 at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
It was a 60th minute point from midfielder Cormac O’Donovan which pushed the Banner County to a slender victory — and the Cats left heartbroken for the second time, following the defeat of the senior camogie side just a few hours earlier.
Clonlara twin O’Donovan was in superb form in the second half with two vital points as John Minogue’s charges dethroned the reigning champions.
It was one of the closest finals in years as the sides were level on nine occasions, including four in the opening half as both teams gave their all.
Cats boss Michael Walsh expected nothing other than a tight tussle, as he tried to pick up the pieces when speaking after the game.
"I never thought we had it won because we were never far enough ahead to have it won. We couldn’t push out to three or four points.
Our lads played fantastic in the second half, I couldn’t be prouder of them,” he said.
"But the ball just wouldn’t go over the bar for us and if the ball doesn’t go over the bar, you leave the other team off. I give Clare full credit. They battled away and got great scores and they were more economical with their possession.
"It was always a tough, tight game. I thought we had the upper hand in the second half but they got the scores when it counted and we didn’t press home the advantage when we had it."
Kilkenny drew first blood with midfielder Mark Kelly slotting over their first point after a minute and a half as Walsh’s side settled more quickly.
But this was a game where Clare continually stepped up to the mark with three of the next four points, with Colin Ryan taking two pointed frees and Camin Morley also scoring to ensure a 0-03 to 0-02 lead by the 11th minute.
The Cats were eager to bounce back quickly with a brace of John Mulhall points, to a lone Clare point from Colin Ryan ensuring the sides were tied at 0-04 apiece after 19 minutes.
But Newmarket-on-Fergus clubman Ryan was outstanding over the second quarter with four further points as the Banner County claimed a 0-08 to 0-06 interval lead, with Colin Fennelly keeping the Cats in touch.
Clare’s defence really came under huge pressure on the restart with Kilkenny’s attack firing on all cylinders.
The Cats bagged three unanswered points within seven minutes of the restart as scores from Richie Hogan, James Nolan, and Colin Fennelly saw them take a 0-09 to 0-08 lead by the 37th minute.
But eager Clare failed to wilt and although Kilkenny did a successful man-marking job on Darach Honan, to hold the Clonlara full-forward scoreless, the Banner County make a strong comeback.
Clare answered the questions on each occasion it was asked of them with Ryan finishing with an impressive tally of nine points.
Richie Hogan and Mark Kelly did their best to edge Kilkenny on top, but nothing could stop a famous Clare win as late scores from Ryan and midfielder Cormac O’Donovan paved the way for a historic success.
Speaking afterwards Clare manager John Minogue felt that both teams gave an excellent display throughout, and he was particularly happy with how his charges coped with Cats Senior star Hogan.
“Both teams marked each other very well. The guys who were dangerous were marked very well. Richie Hogan didn’t get much in the first half. [Darach] Honan hadn’t hit a ball in two weeks [due to a hamstring injury] and it showed out there today but he was well marked and the Kilkenny backs put up a brick wall.”
Clare: D Tuohy; E Glynn, C Dillon, C O’Doherty; D O’Donovan, N O’Connell, J Gunning; E Barrett, C O’Donovan (0-2 ); C Morley (0-1 ), J Conlon (0-3 ), S Collins; C Tierney, D Honan, C Ryan (0-9, 6f, 1 65 ). Subs: C McGrath for Tierney (44 ); P O’Connor for Morley (49 ); E Hayes for Gunning (53. )
Kilkenny: C McGrath; P Murphy, P Nolan, C Fogarty; L Ryan, D Langton, M Walsh; M Kelly (0-2 ), L Ryan; C Fennelly (0-3 ), M Bergin, J Mulhall (0-2 ); R Hogan (0-5, 1f ), JJ Farrell, J Nolan (0-2 ). Subs: N Cleere for Bergin (49 ).
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork ).
