Ballyea (Clare) 1-21

Glen Rovers (Cork) 2-10

Tony Kelly was immense as Ballyea landed an historic Munster club SHC title at a freezing Semple Stadium just weeks after being crowned Clare champions for the first time.

The former Hurler of the Year shot five points from play as the black and ambers withstood a second half fightback by Glen Rovers to become the first Clare club to claim senior provincial hurling honours since Sixmilebridge 16 years ago. In front of an attendance of 4,583, the Banner side dominated the first half to take a 1-10 to 0-4 lead into the break, but a brace of second half goals from Conor Dorris revived the Cork city side's challenge before the winners produced a turbo-charged finish to finally put the result beyond doubt.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested with the sides level on 0-3 apiece before Pearse Lillis swooped for the first goal in the 13th minute. With Kelly and Niall Deasy in fine scoring form, Ballyea scored seven of the next eight points to leave nine between the teams at half-time.

Glen Rovers refused to give up the ghost, though, and were given hope when Dorris netted inside two minutes of the restart after Ballyea goalkeeper Kevin Sheehan had batted down Patrick Horgan's '65'. 

Dorris struck again five minutes later to reduce the deficit to just three points and the margin was still the same with 11 minutes remaining after county star Horgan had nailed two frees. 

But Ballyea finished with a flourish, outscoring their opponents by 0-7 to 0-2 in a barnstorming final 10 minutes, with Kelly and Gearoid O'Connell leading their late scoring charge.

Ballyea - K Sheridan; B Carrig, J Browne, J Neylon; G O'Connell (0-3), P Flanagan, J Murphy; T Kelly (0-5), S Lineen; N Deasy (0-7, 3f), PJ Connolly (0-2), C Doonan; P Lillis (1-1), G Brennan (0-1), D Burke (0-2). Sub: P O'Connell for PJ Connolly.

Glen Rovers - C Hickey; C Healy, S McDonnell, G Moylan; D Dooling, B Moylan, G Callanan; D Cronin, D Noonan; D Brosnan, P Horgan (0-5, 4f, 1'65), D Cunningham (0-1); C Dorris (2-1), C O'Brien (0-1), D Busteed. Subs: M Dooley (0-2) for D Busteed, B Murphy for G Moylan, G Kennefick for C O'Brien.

Referee - J Murphy.

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