Watching yesterday's All Ireland hurling semi-final between Clare and Kilkenny at Croke Park, it was difficult to understand what all the fuss was about regarding the sporting endeavours in Athens in recent days. Surely yesterday's fare was closer to the Corinthian ideal.

What we saw yesterday was a match between two teams who served up a continuous barrage of action in an enthralling match which owed nothing to hype or over-the-top promotion and which ended with Clare squeezing through by four points (1-17 to 1-13).

And that was not before every sinew in every person in the crowd of 47,261 had been stretched to the limit.

It was not a match to satisfy the hurling purist. It was far to good for that; too fast, too tense, too riveting to allow for the finicky fineries, but good enough to satiate the most demanding of appetites and to leave hurling with yet another memorable occasion to decorate an extraordinary hurling summer.

As in all such encounters, some sympathy must be offered to the vanquished. Without any question Kilkenny gave a courageous performance worthy of their distinguished history. What will have given even their most committed followers some solace, however, is that Clare - for long a county of hope rather than achievement - will never again be regarded as a "soft touch" for the elite.

Clare - with the scalps of Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny already under their belts this summer - are now a leading member of the elite. Kilkenny will welcome that situation with generosity - as well as with an element of apprehension.

There will continue to be much discussion about the situation which allowed Kilkenny back into contention for the All-Ireland title after being beaten by Wexford in the Leinster final, but regardless of attitudes to this development, it cannot be denied that we now have one of the most fascinating finishes to the All-Ireland series for many years.

It is difficult not to drool over the prospect of the clash between Wexford and Tipperary next Sunday and the match which will follow with Clare now safely positioned in the driving seat.

Yesterday's match will be savoured for some time: It was sporting, it had superb scores, colour, commitment, heroics and close shaves and a typical, although unsuccessful, bid by Kilkenny to overhaul Clare in the final minutes, inspired by none other than DJ Carey. What more could anyone have wanted?

The impressive performance by Clare in the early part of the game presaged major problems for Kilkenny. So also did the fact that DJ Carey missed an early free from a position from which he would normally be expected to score in his sleep.

Matters slipped further down the slope for Kilkenny when Ger O'Loughlin benefitted from the support of Conor Clancy and PJ O'Connell to open up an unanswered 1-2 lead by the fourth minute. And Clare had a playful wind in their faces.

Kilkenny's best efforts were foundering on the central rocks of Clare's defence, represented by Brian and Frank Lohan, Sean McMahon and the ubiquitous Anthony Daly. The Clare mid-fielders, Ollie Baker and Colin Lynch, were no less vigilant, although Kilkenny's Phil Larkin was not letting his illustrious forebears down in that area either.

The two men who were expected to cause most damage to the Clare defence, Carey and Charlie Carter, were being well shackled by the Clare defence. Michael Phelan, a late withdrawal from full forward, was being missed, even though PJ Delaney, Canice Brennan and John Power were trying desperately to compensate. On the other hand the absence of Fergal Tuohy from the Clare attack, another late withdrawal, did not seem to punish Clare so severely. Niall Gilligan, who replaced him, made a considerable impression, particular in the second half. With Jamesie O'Connor turning in one of those performances which have decorated his career, Clare were certainly in the ascendant.

Given the certain recent climate of recrimination, it is fitting to pay tribute to the referee, Dickie Murphy from Wexford. He was helped substantially by the players themselves and if there were a few confrontations in the heat of battle, there was nothing mean or vicious at any stage.

In matches like these goalkeepers are sometimes forgotten. Clare will not, however, forget David Fitzgerald for his brilliant save from a Carey penalty in the 26th minute which might well have changed the pattern of the game. Success would have narrowed the gap to a point. Adrian Ronan, too, deserves credit for courage beneath the dropping ball on a number of occasions.

These memories will linger in the memory, at least until next Sunday when Wexford and Tipperary meet for the right to match their skills with Clare in what promises to be a memorable final. Seldom has the appetite been so open to another feast.