Last gasp goal not enough as Cats go down fighting in Ennis

Clare 2-20

Kilkenny 1-22

KILKENNY netted with the final act of the game – but the last gasp score was too little, too late for the Cats against a competitive Clare side in the second round of the Allianz National Hurling League.

After making a bright start to the campaign against Cork last week, Brian Cody’s men were beaten by a Clare side that had made no fewer than six changes to the team that was defeated in Tipperary last weekend.

Cody himself had made two changes to his line-up, with Richie Leahy and Martin Keoghan drafted in to boost the Kilkenny attack.

Man of the match Colm Galvin excelled in midfield for Clare in place of the suspended Tony Kelly.

He was instrumental in both Clare’s goals, which put the Banner six up after their second three-pointer.

Another score from Diarmuid Ryan pushed them further away from Kilkenny, who were experimenting with players in new positions.

The Cats did manage to claw themselves back into the game and were just three down in the 62nd minute.

But before Kevin Kelly’s goal from a free with the last action of the game Clare were four points clear and that was enough for the Banner to claim the spoils as the final whistle blew.

CLARE: D. Tuohy; R. Hayes, D. McInerney, D. Browne; C. Malone, C. Cleary, D. Fitzgerald; P. Duggan, P. Collins, D. Ryan; C. Guilfoyle, J. Conlon, I. Galvin.

Subs for Clare: G. Cooney for C. Guilfoyle (53); R. Taylor for I. Galvin (60); J. McCarthy for R. Hayes (62); N. Deasy for P. Duggan (66); M. O’Malley for C. Galvin (70+1).

KILKENNY: E. Murphy; P. Murphy, H. Lawlor, T. Walsh; C. Delaney, P. Deegan, E. Morrissey; J.Maher, C. Fogarty (c); J. Donnelly, G. Aylward, M. Keoghan; B. Ryan, K. Kelly, R. Leahy.

Subs for Kilkenny: R. Lennon for H. Lawlor (blood, 26-29); C. Browne for J. Maher (44); P. Walsh for E. Morrissey (49); L. Blanchfield forR. Leahy (53); G. Malone for M. Keoghan (58);

Referee: P. O’Dwyer (Carlow).