Allianz Hurling League semi-finals:Kilkenny pulled away from Clare in the second half to record a comfortable 1-20 to 0-14 victory in the first of the semi-finals in Thurles and make it to their fourth league final in a row.
Davy Fitzgerald’s Division 1B side kept up with the Cats during a first half that started 15 minutes late after supporters were delayed getting into the ground. A heavy downpour also made conditions tricky in the early stages.
Clare’s Conor McGrath traded scores with Kilkenny’s Richie Power, the pair scoring 0-5 each in the first half as Brian Cody’s side went in at the break leading 0-8 to 0-7. Power didn’t have it all his own way, having his 22nd-minute penalty saved.
Kilkenny struck a blow to Clare’s chances five minutes into the second half when Matthew Ruth scored the game’s only goal and he would add a further three points from play, while Power finished with a tally of nine points, seven of this coming from placed balls.
Kilkenny will play Cork in the decider on May 6th after they also proved the stronger in the second half to beat Tipperary 1-25 to 2-15 in an exciting contest.
The sides were level at 10 points apiece at half-time, although Cork were hit by the loss of goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack with a suspected torn Achilles.
Tipp gained the impetus after Brian O’Meara and Eoin Kelly scored goals to go 2-13 to 0-17 ahead but the introduction from the bench of some of Jimmy Barry Murphy’s young stars proved crucial as the Rebels took control of the game.
Luke O’Farrell also chipped in with a goal as they hit six of the last seven points of the game, with Conor Lehane and Darren Sweetman wrapping up the scoring.