Allianz NHL Final- Main Talking Points
Clare 3-16 Kilkenny 1-20
Main Man
Adam Hogan (Clare)
Kilkenny may have had eleven different scorers over the course of the seventy minutes on Saturday night but the Clare defence still got the better of the Cats attacking threat. With no TJ Reid, the Banner’s attention was firmy fixed on restricting Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody and even though the Shamrocks pair had their moments, they were still well marshalled. Adam Hogan in particular was effective in his role of stopping Eoin Cody and not for the first time he succeeding in frustrating the former young hurler of the year.
Turning Point
With only two points seperating the sides, it will always come down to small margins and Eoin Cody’s penalty miss a minute from time was a crucial moment as a goal there would have left just a point between the teams going into stoppage time.
Highlight
On a losing night, Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng will be happy with how his side kept battling to the end . The Cats were second best for much of the second period but they kept going and were still searching for a game salvaging goal in the final moments.
Lowlight
Whatever way you attempt to dress it up, the statistics will tell you that this was Kilkenny’s fourth successive national title loss and that won’t sit well from a county that has achieved so much success at the highest level.
What’s Next
Both sides open up their respective championship campaigns on Sunday April, 21 with Kilkenny hosting Antrim in UPMC Nowlan Park while Clare face defending All-Ireland champions Limerick in Ennis.