A crowd of over 10 thousand were served up a thriller in Cusack Park this asfternoon as Clare recorded an Opening round win in the Allianz Hurling League against Kilkenny.
It ended in a single point victory for the banner man – with Newmarkets Colin Ryan top scoring with 1-09, 7 of which came from placed balls.
Ryan helped Davy Fitzgerald’s side take an early lead before Henry Shefflin pointed his first free in the 6th minute to make it a 0-03 to 0-01 lead for the banner man.
Shefflin put the Cats ahead for the first time in the 12th minute but Clare responded immediately and Ryan was at the end of some remarkable play from Conor McGrath to drive to the back of the net .
By the 22nd minute of the first half the All Ireland champions led by double scores at 1-07 to 0-05, however again Kilkenny rallied and ended the opening period with five points unanswered and by the break it was all square at 1-08 to 0-11.
Clare went two ahead 12 minutes into the second half through another Ryan free, and the sides went point for point until three points in a row saw the Cats again go ahead, with 57 minutes played at 0-17 to 1-13.
The final five minutes were played at a blistering pace that again saw Clare dig deep, with points from Cathal O'Connell, Conor McGrath and a Ryan free they now led 1-16 to 0-17.
Shefflin pointed a free on the 69th minute to close the gap again, and despite several wides in the dying minutes, the hosts held on to take all points from today’s game and end it 1-16 to 0-18 the better.
Post match reaction on The Final Whistle at 5:30 this evening on the Big Weekend.
