Clare have earned their first win of Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League
The Banner were a step ahead of Kilkenny for most of their game in Ennis this afternoon, particularly after John Conlon scored the game’s opening goal after 15 minutes, pulling on the ball after it had been fired in by Colin Guilfoyle.
That was key in giving Clare a one-point lead at half-time – 1-08 to 0-10 – with Guilfoyle, Peter Duggan, Colm Galvin and Shane Golden all chipping in with key scores.
Clare stayed in front throughout the second half, with the key moment coming with 48 minutes on the clock.
Some fine work by Colm Galvin – arguably Clare’s finest performer on the day – set up Podge Collins who fired the ball into the Kilkenny net from a tight angle, with Eoin Murphy unable to keep the sliotar out the goal despite getting a stick to it.
Diarmuid Ryan and Ian Galvin scored points shortly afterwards that put Clare in a position which meant they would always be in front, even when Kilkenny’s Kevin Kelly scored a goal from a free with the last puck of the game.
Clare won 2-20 to 1-22.