Gaelic Games

In-form Clare can finish the league unbeaten and with a first title in eight years

Both teams will have it harder than in poorly contested semi-finals but Brian Lohan’s team can edge out impressive Kilkenny

Clare's Colm Cleary and Adam Hogan in action against Kilkenny's Eoin Cody and TJ Reid during the league clash last month in Ennis. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho

Seán Moran
Fri Apr 5 2024 - 19:34
Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final

Clare v Kilkenny, FBD Semple Stadium, 7.15 [Live TG4]

Clare and Kilkenny have been the great troupers of the Age of Limerick, always having a go and undaunted by the vicissitudes that all brings.

Clare, the All-Ireland champions’ closest competitors in Munster in the past two years, were cautioned by consensus sentiment to avoid league finals taking place a fortnight out from a championship opener.

Unease at such a prospect may have intensified after Limerick’s no-show in the semi-final against Kilkenny but Clare took the situation on its merits and ploughed through Tipperary into a first league final in eight years.

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Of course, not turning up guarantees the end when playing Kilkenny, a county virtually never open to the idea that playing it softly might be a longer-term blessing.

In the recent years when Limerick have been winning Munster, Kilkenny have been trying to keep them honest in All-Ireland finals. To reach these, they have had to overcome Clare, once easily and once not so easily. Either way, Brian Lohan’s team won’t want to perpetuate that trend.

Outside of those All-Ireland semi-finals, the teams hadn’t met in league for three years. Until last month. Then, in a dour affair in Ennis, Clare landed the points with a late flourish against a Kilkenny team just being gathered together by Derek Lyng after O’Loughlin Gaels’ club run and the return of the eternal TJ Reid.

Kilkenny weren’t in any sort of form. A previously – and subsequently – prolific Adrian Mullen couldn’t seem to score; Eoin Cody managed 0-1 and their total of 0-16 was their lowest in the league for five years since Limerick came calling in 2019.

Clare, as has more than once been the case this campaign, had to win the match a couple of times, having given up the initiative in the second half before reasserting themselves. They will need to guard against that – the Kilkenny of the semi-final won’t need second invitations

Lohan has reason to be pleased with his team’s displays. As a couple of his best players rehab after injury, he has played younger panellists and got some good performances out of them. Saturday evening will see familiar faces back on the replacements’ bench: All Star Shane O’Donnell and David McInerney although as yet no sign of Tony Kelly.

Clare's David Reidy and Kilkenny's Adrian Mullen in advance of the Allianz Hurling League final at Thurles. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho

Factor in whatever Limerick were up to and Kilkenny still played well in the semi-final, absorbing the champions’ fiery opening five minutes and picking them off thereafter. Lyng has his own injury issues with All Star corner back Mikey Butler and Mikey Carey both out but the team display in Cork was excellent, sharp and well fit to exploit the opposition sloppiness.

Clare’s semi-final was also impressive. Player of the League so far, David Fitzgerald, pitched in with his usual scoring haul, 1-3 from play – the goal timed to eradicate the good of Tipperary’s, less than a minute earlier – having had 0-5 from play in Ennis against Kilkenny. Tipp helped by missing an abundance of frees, which TJ Reid won’t be doing.

Both teams will make it harder for each other than they had it in the semi-finals. Clare have had a good season, going unbeaten so far in the competition. Kilkenny are piecing together their best form.

Who wins?

Lohan’s team could do with some silverware and although Kilkenny are not naturally receptive to the needs of others, Clare also have power and physique, basis stakes for playing at the same table as their opponents plus enough players in form to swing a match, albeit not by much.

Clare: E Quilligan; A Hogan, C Cleary (capt), C Leen; D Ryan, J Conlon, C Galvin; D Fitzgerald, D Lohan; C Malone, M Rodgers, P Duggan; A McCarthy, I Galvin, D Reidy. Subs: C Broderick, R Hayes, P Flanagan, S Morey, D McInerney, P Donnellan, S O’Donnell, A Shanagher, S Meehan, P Crotty, G Sheehy.

Kilkenny: E Murphy; S Murphy, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, P Deegan (capt), R Reid; C Kenny, J Molloy; A Mullen, J Donnelly, B Ryan; L Hogan, TJ Reid, E Cody. Subs: A Tallis, C Delaney, P Moylan, D Corcoran, C Fogarty, K Blanchfield, T Clifford, B Drennan, O Wall, M Keoghan, L Blanchfield.

Referee: John Murphy (Limerick)

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times

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