All-Ireland MHC- Kilkenny defeat Clare in extra-time thriller
Kilkenny 2-23 Clare 2-20
Kilkenny overcame a very slow start as they defeated Clare via extra-time in this afternoon's All-Ireland Minor Hurling Semi-Final in FBD Semple Stadium.
The concession of two goals from Conor Ralph and Paul Rodgers inside the opening five minutes looked to have Kilkenny in a degree of discomfort but the Cats showed remarkable resolve and character as they battled back with goals from Conor Holohan and Ollie O'Donovan proving crucial in the fightback.
Jake Mullen was again to the fore with 13 points in total including four from play and it was in a dominant third quarter that Niall Bergin's side really began to motor.
Clare didn't get to this stage without having a vast amount of quality though and although Kilkenny led 2-14 to 2-10 with only five minutes of normal time, the Banner finished strongly with Harry Doherty's 64th minute free forcing the game into the extra period.
The Cats got four points without reply at the start of the extra-time including one from Patrick Lacey who starred on his return from injury and ultimately Clare were always chasing that deficit till the end.
A red card to Paul Rodgers didn't help the defending champions cause as Kilkenny eventually got over the line for their first final appearance since 2021.
Teams and Scorers
Kilkenny: Jake Mullen 0-13 (9f); Ollie O’Donovan, Conor Holohan 1-0 each; Robbie Doherty, Bill McDermott 0-3 each; Kevin Buggy, Patrick Lacey 0-2 each.
Clare: Harry Doherty 0-7 (4f); Conor Ralph 1-2; Matthew Corbett 0-5 (5f); Paul Rodgers 1-1; Dara Kennedy, James Cullinan, Patrick Finneran, Darragh McNamara, Jerry O’Connor 0-1 each.
Kilkenny: Jake O’Doherty (Mooncoin); Oisin Henderson (Dicksboro), Larry Phelan (James Stephens), Bobby Brennan (Erin's Own); D Barcoe (Clara), Jack Dollard (Glenmore), Mikey Rohan (Carrickshock); Kevin Buggy (Erin's Own), Eoin Brennan (Erin's Own); Robbie Doherty (Glenmore), Bill McDermott (James Stephens), Conor Holohan (O'Loughlin Gaels); Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes), Jake Mullen (Shamrocks), Jason Cody (Glenmore).
Subs: Louis Raggett (Dicksboro) for B Brennan (h-t), Eoghan Cahill (Graigue Ballycallan) for Cody (38 mins), Cian Byrne (O'Loughlin Gaels) for McDermott (58 mins), Patrick Lacey (Dicksboro) for E Brennan (58 mins), Conor McEvoy (James Stephens) for Holohan (73 mins), Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro) for Cahill (73 mins), Diarmuid Behan (James Stephens) for Barcoe (79 mins).
Clare: Matthew Crotty; Sean Óg Kilkenny, Sean McNamara, Darren Moroney; Rian Mulcahy, James Cullinan, Dara Kennedy; Graham Ball, Matthew Corbett; Patrick Finneran, Tadhg Lohan, Harry Doherty; Conor Ralph, Paul Rodgers, Liam Murphy.
Subs: Ryan Hayes for G Ball (41 mins), Darragh McNamara for Lohan (45 mins), Darragh Ball for Corbett (52 mins), Jerry O’Connor for Ralph (53 mins), Michael Vaughan for Finneran (60 mins), Evan Crimmins for Kennedy (h-t e-t).
Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)