All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Kilkenny 5-16 Clare 1-16

By Eoin Brennan at Semple Stadium

A physically dominant Kilkenny blitzed Clare with five goals to secure their first All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling title in six years in Semple Stadium this evening.

In front of 1,401 the determined Cats banished previous final losses in 2011, ’12 and ’13 to reclaim the Michael Cusack Cup in style as they hit the Banner for four first half goals.

Clare had started well, moving 1-2 clear after 10 minutes thanks to a Ryan Taylor goal, but they would be sucker-punched for three goals inside six minutes, with Kilkenny’s full-forward line of Billy Ryan, Nicky Cleere and John Walsh all getting in on the goalscoring action before a fourth for Luke Scanlon ensured a 4-5 to 1-7 half-time advantage.

Clare fought back after the restart, mainly through captain Shane McGrath’s frees, but Kilkenny were always able to reply with Ryan and Walsh in particular causing the Banner huge problems.

Clare would get to within four points of their opponents, but despite being reduced to 14 men following a second yellow for Evan Cody in the 52nd minute, Kilkenny finished with aplomb, outscoring a flagging Banner by 1-6 to 0-1 including an injury-time goal for Walsh to garner the first adult hurling championship honours of the year.

Scorers for Kilkenny: J Walsh 2-2, B Ryan 1-4, N Cleere 1-4 (4fs), L Scanlon 1-2, A Murphy 0-2 (2fs), J Langton 0-1, S Morrissey 0-1.

**Scorers for Clare: **S McGrath 0-10 (8fs), K Hehir 0-3, R Taylor 1-0, J McCarthy 0-2, D Russell 0-1.

Kilkenny: A Duggan; E Cody, T Aylward, L Hickey; J Cleere, C Delaney, J Brennan; J Langton, L Scanlon; A Murphy, C Tobin, R Leahy; B Ryan, N Cleere, J Walsh.

Subs: S Morrissey for Tobin (45), Jack McGrath for Leahy (54), S Donnelly for Murphy (60).Clare: D Vaughan; R Hayes, E Quirke, C Cooney; A McGuane, S Taylor, J McCarthy; D Conroy, K Hehir; O Donnellan, S McGrath, D Corry; D Russell, M O’Neill, R Taylor.

Clare: D Vaughan; R Hayes, E Quirke, C Cooney; A McGuane, S Taylor, J McCarthy; D Conroy, K Hehir; O Donnellan, S McGrath, D Corry; D Russell, M O’Neill, R Taylor.

Subs: D Walsh for Taylor (2), E Enright for Hayes (HT), P O’Loughlin for Donnellan (40).

Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).