MHC SEMI-FINAL:CLARE WILL meet Kilkenny in the All-Ireland minor hurling final after they saw off a dogged Dublin at Croke Park yesterday.
Leading all of the way through, Clare looked as if they would have things their own way after building up a seven-point lead in the first half. But Dublin stuck with them for long periods, though they were crucially unable to get back on level terms at any stage.
Clare started brightly, registering four points before Dublin got out of the blocks, with Tony Kelly and Niall Arthur impressing for them. Dean Flood put Dublin on the scoreboard in the 16th minute, but that proved to be just a brief respite as Kelly, Arthur (twice) and Daire Keane all added points to leave Clare 0-8 to 0-1 in front.
The gap could have been ever larger only for a fine save by Dublin goalkeeper Eamonn Dillon from Keane, deflecting the ball over the bar and the Leinster runners-up seemed to be buoyed by that let-off and began eating into their deficit.
Centre-forward Ciarán Kilkenny scored two fine points, with Cormac Costello and Flood also weighing in, and with just a Jamie Shanahan point in response for the Banner, their lead was down to just two points at the interval.
Half-time came at the right time for the Munster champions, however, and they came out with renewed vigour for the second half.
Three points in a row in the first five minutes, two frees from Arthur and one by Cathal Malone, left it 0-12 to 0-7, and Dillon was again called into action in the Dublin goal, saving from both Arthur and Malone.
When the game’s first goal came, though, it was at the Clare end, and it was not without good fortune either, as Clare custodian Ronan Taaffe dropped a Costello sideline ball and Emmet Conghaile was on hand to poke the ball home to leave just two in it again.
That setback apart, Clare still looked to be in control and points from Galvin and Arthur were the perfect response to the concession of the goal.
Clare were on top in midfield, as evidenced by the replacement of both of Dublins starters there, but the metropolitans to their credit never wilted, Flood and Ó Conghaile bringing the margin back to two again.
A quick brace in the space of a minute from Clare substitute Aaron Cunningham ensured they kept ahead though, and Arthur was unlucky to be denied a goal in the 51st minute, Dillon blocking bravely from him after being dispossessed. With seven minutes left, Dublin struck for their second goal, the impressive Costello producing a nice turn and a shot which deceived Taaffe to make it 0-17 to 2-10 and all to play for.
Clare responded positively, again, Keane, Paudge Collins and Arthur all pointing. Flood and John Hetherton pointed late frees for the Dubs to cut it to two again and though Hardy went for goal with an injury-time effort, his shot just cleared the crossbar.
CLARE: R Taaffe; H Vaughan, P Flanagan, S Morey; E Boyce, K Lynch, S O'Halloran; C Galvin (0-1), T Kelly (0-2); C Malone (0-1), P Collins (0-1), J Shanahan (0-1); D Keane (0-3), N Arthur (0-8, four frees), D O'Halloran (0-1). Subs: A Cunningham (0-2) for Malone (45 mins), A Mulready for O'Halloran (54 mins)
DUBLIN: E Dillon; C Murphy, E McKenna, S McClelland; C Moffat, D Sutcliffe, B Quinn; D Kelly, B McCarthy; F Heavey, C Kilkenny (0-3), G Whelan (0-1); C Costello (1-1), E Ó Conghaile (1-1), D Flood (0-4, three frees). Subs: N Maguire for Kelly (27 mins), J Hetherton (0-2, two frees) for Whelan (37 mins), R Hardy (0-1) for McCarthy (42 mins), N Ryan for Flood (58 mins).
Referee: E Hassen (Derry).
