Preview- Kilkenny and Clare get ready to rock once again
Round Three: A huge battle expected in latest semi-final clash
For the third year on the trot, Clare stand in the way of Kilkenny qualifying for the All-Ireland final as the two counties collide in another crunch clash on Saturday afternoon (throw-in 3pm).
The Noresiders have emerged victorious in the last two seasons but Derek Lyng will be very much aware of the Banner threat seeing as Clare have already beaten Kilkenny on two occasions in 2024.
Despite being without the likes of Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell, Clare ran out 0-19 to 0-16 winners over the Cats during the Allianz League in Ennis. They then followed that up by beating the same opposition in the league final in Thurles a couple of weeks later.
That league title milestone was a big one for Clare but, in the greater scheme of things, it will matter for little when the ball is thrown in on Saturday.
In many ways the pressure is off Kilkenny as we have a fair idea of what performance they will deliver as they always tend to show up while on the opposite end Clare will be disappointed at their last two displays in Croke Park.
Two years ago Kilkenny were much the better team as Brian Lohan’s Clare outfit failed to show up with Mikey Butler holding Tony Kelly scoreless. While the Munster finalists were much improved last year there’s a sense that their use of a sweeper only played into Kilkenny hands, as it proved come the final whistle.
That’s where the league final victory may be a big positive from a Clare perspective in the fact that they overcame the Cats in a big game. When it’s come to the crunch in Croke Park, they haven’t delivered.
While it’s not now or never, Clare’s more experienced players that are still around from the 2013 All-Ireland success are running out of time to make another final and they will see Saturday as a big opportunity.
While we expect Clare to come with a great degree of fire and vigour and even something different tactically as it’s hard to see them winning otherwise, in contrast you can mark your watch by the Cats as they usually turn up when it matters most.
Derek Lyng’s team have quietly gone about their business so far this year and they remain the only unbeaten side of the four teams remaining in the championship.
Kilkenny are in the exact same position they’ve been in for the last two seasons and they’ve become experts in working the four week after the Leinster Final to their advantage.
The way they blew away Dublin in that 3-28 to 1-18 success also bodes well as the Cats aim to reach the All-Ireland decider for the third year on the trot.
Kilkenny have mixed up their game well throughout the season but there’s no doubting that they face their biggest test to date.
The injury front has been relatively kind ahead of the weekend after John Donnelly and Mikey Carey both started the Leinster final and while the duo are still carrying knocks, the hope is that they will both be fit to start.
Add in Adrian Mullen’s return against the Dubs where he scored seven points from play and the Cats have all the ingredients at their disposal to make things very difficult for Clare once again.
The Croke Park factor is a huge one as well with GAA HQ operating as something of a second home to the Noresiders.
Quite remarkably Clare haven’t won a championship game on the Jones’s Road since they captured the Liam MacCarthy Cup for only the fourth time in their history in 2013.
To be fair to the Banner County, they haven’t played in Croke Park over the last 11 years all too often either so in theory Kilkenny should have a big advantage in this regard but with only one win over the Cats in the championship back in 1997, the Munster side are looking to make up for lost time.
The two teams have built up a bit of a rivalry over the last few years and personnel wise they match up pretty well.
Kilkenny are well built from the back with a solid defence and they’ll look to tie down Clare’s main score-getters with Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor and Tommy Walsh aiming to shackle Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell and Mark Rodgers among others.
It will be no different at the opposite end of the field with Eoin Cody sure to have Adam Hogan shadowing him everywhere while just who Brian Lohan decides on taking up Adrian Mullen and TJ Reid will go a long way to deciding the result.
The midfield battle will also be ferociously fought with Cian Kenny and David Fitzgerald both having stellar seasons. As the Cats found out to their detriment in the league decider, putting a halt to Fitzgerald’s surging runs will be crucial.
The use of the benches will also have a big say on the destination of the winner and already this year, the likes of Jordan Molloy, Conor Fogarty, Shane Murphy and Walter Walsh have made an impact when called upon.
Kilkenny have been working away the last few weeks including getting a weekend away to Fota Island as they look to perfect their gameplan for their biggest game of the season thus far.
The mid-afternoon Saturday slot of 3pm is an unusual one but with so much on the line, this semi-final rematch should certainly live up to its billing.